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2. AGENDA. Incoterms 2010Foreign ExchangePayment MethodsLetters of Credit at Financing ToolsMedium-Term Financing for Foreign BuyersExport Credit InsuranceExamples and ?War Stories"Q
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1. 1 “Getting Paid for Your Exports in a Challenging Global Economy”Lansing, MI
2. 2 AGENDA Incoterms 2010
Foreign Exchange
Payment Methods
Letters of Credit at Financing Tools
Medium-Term Financing for Foreign Buyers
Export Credit Insurance
Examples and “War Stories”
Q & A
3. 3 Pricing/Shipping Terms Known as Incoterms 2010
Published by:
ICC Publishing Corporation
156 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10010
(212) 206-1150
Website: http://www.iccwbo.org
A set of international rules, initially formulated in 1936 by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to define & interpret a standard set of pricing/shipping terms for international trade.
Know the Rules I recommend that you purchase the ICC publication “A Guide to Incoterms” as a reference tool – approx. cost $35I recommend that you purchase the ICC publication “A Guide to Incoterms” as a reference tool – approx. cost $35
4. 4 Incoterms 2010 Rules for Any Mode or Modes of Transport
EXW = Ex Works
FCA = Free Carrier
CPT = Carriage Paid To
CIP = Carriage & Insurance Paid To
DAT = Delivered At Terminal
DAP = Delivered At Place
DDP = Delivered Duty Paid
Rules for Sea and Inland Waterway Transport
FAS = Free Alongside Ship
FOB = Free On Board
CFR = Cost & Freight
CIF = Cost, Insurance & Freight
5. 5 Foreign Exchange There is foreign exchange risk to someone in every international transaction – even those payable in U.S. dollars
Four Basic Risks
- Fluctuation risk
- Transaction risk – cash flow risk
- Economic risk – operating risk vs. competitors
- Translation risk – accounting risk
You must quantify and manage this risk
Banks have tools and expertise to help you mitigate these risks
6. 6 Foreign Exchange Common Uses of Foreign Exchange
Transactions – used to make or receive payments in another currency
Precautionary hedges – to protect against unexpected changes in exchange rates
Speculative positions – to profit from expected changes in exchange rates
Foreign investments – to buy and sell foreign assets
7. 7 Payment Methods
8. 8
9. 9 Payment Methods: 4 Methods
10. 10 Choice of Methods (What Determines?)
Buyer-Seller Relationship
Buyer’s credit standing
Competition
Uniqueness of the product (custom made?)
Country conditions (political, economic)
Cash flow considerations
Transaction costs
Other
11. 11 Payment Methods: 4 Methods
12. 12 Risk Evaluation and Mitigation High Risk – Cash-in-Advance or Confirmed LC
Moderate Risk – Advised or Confirmed LC
Low Risk – Documentary Collection (at sight)
Very Low Risk: Documentary Collection (Time) or, Open Account (possibly with Credit Insurance)
Lowest Risk – Open Account on extended terms
Make Decisions to Mitigate the Risks
Consider ALL risks, not just credit risks
13. 13 Cash In Advance Buyer Pays
Wire Transfer
Check
Draft
Credit Card
Seller Ships
No risk for seller except order cancellation
Foreign Import Regulations may prohibit
Hard sell to buyer
Consider the type of payment (Wire Transfer Best)
Requires little to no credit understanding of the buyer
KYC (Important)
14. 14 Open Account Seller Ships
Buyer Pays
Wire Transfer
Check
Draft
Credit Card
Ship it and hope you get paid
Foreign import regulations may prohibit
Full Country & Buyer Credit Risk
Consider payment type (wire transfer best)
Requires extensive knowledge of the buyer (underwriting, trade references, excellent reputation)
15. 15 Letters of Credit A versatile tool for closing the gap that exists between buyers and sellers.
16. 16 Letters of Credit Definition:
- An undertaking issued by a bank for the account of the applicant (buyer) to pay to the beneficiary (seller) the value of the letter of credit, provided that the terms and conditions evidenced by documents presented, are complied with
In other words:
- A letter of credit substitutes a bank’s creditworthiness, which is generally well known or easily ascertainable for that of its customer, which may not be as well known
17. 17 Letters of Credit Two Common Types
Documentary / Commercial
Active payment instrument
Active financing tool
Standby
Passive payment instrument
Passive financing tool
Performance
Financial
Trade-Related
18. 18 Independence Principle
19. 19 Sight LC Transaction Flow 4 parties to all international letter of credit transactions
Process begins with an underlying sales contract that specifies payment by letter of credit.
Important for sales staff to understand LC’s. 4 parties to all international letter of credit transactions
Process begins with an underlying sales contract that specifies payment by letter of credit.
Important for sales staff to understand LC’s.
20. 20 Sight LC Transaction Flow
21. 21 Time LC Transaction Flow
22. Advised Letters of Credit Beneficiary:
Bears credit risk of the issuing bank
Bears full country risk of the transaction
Responsible for ensuring compliance with Pro Forma
Advising Bank:
Responsibility limited to authentication
Has no payment obligation
Advocate for beneficiary
23. 23 Role of the Advising Bank Verify the authenticity of the Letter of Credit, thereby protecting the beneficiary from fraud
Advocate for the beneficiary
No conflict of interest
Other benefits of using your bank
Commitment to Customer Service
Relationship Pricing
Consistency in Processing
If you want more protection the next step is to consider having the letter of credit confirmed
24. Confirmed Letters of Credit Eliminates issuing bank country and commercial risk
If the issuing bank’s letter of credit is confirmed, the confirming bank substitutes its own creditworthiness for that of the issuing bank’s and takes on all duties and responsibilities of an issuing bank
Must be requested by issuing bank to confirm credit
If the issuing bank is not deemed creditworthy, or if there are country risk issues a bank may refuse to add confirmation
25. Confirmed Letters of Credit Confirmation eliminates:
Commercial credit risk of issuing bank
Country risk of issuing bank
Confirmed credit means payment obligation moves to the confirming bank and its country
However:
Confirmation is location specific
Verify country of confirming bank
Confirmation by branch or subsidiary of issuing bank
May shift country risk
May not shift commercial
26. 26 Payment Method: Letter of CreditSet it up right! Irrevocable
Issue Date, Expiry Date & Location
Issuing Bank/Advising Bank
Importer/Exporter
Value & Currency
Description of Goods/Services
Required Documents
Payment Terms
Incoterms
Port-To-Port Info UCP 600
LC Fees - Who Pays?
Latest Ship Date
Presentation Date
Partial Shipments (Y/N)
Transshipments (Y/N)
Paying Bank
Drawee Bank
Reimbursing Bank
Confirming Bank
27. 27 Reducing Cost and Accelerating Payment Set up the LC correctly – negotiating all points
Check with your bank on S.W.I.F.T arrangements prior to LC opening
Avoid discrepancies
Use LC template
Get copy of LC application before issuance
Have the LC confirmed/payable at PNC Bank
In some cases, discount
Consult with PNC Bank
28. 28 What to do When the LC Arrives Read the letter of credit very carefully
Ensure you can comply with the terms (all 20+ points)
Send copy of LC to freight forwarder
Ask about anything you don’t understand
If incorrect, reject the LC immediately
If necessary, request the buyer amend the Letter of Credit
29. 29 The Letter of Credit as a Financing Tool The protections afforded both parties in a letter of credit transaction provide each additional benefits as well
One of these is the ability to use the credit already evidenced by the letter of credit itself to lower Trade Cycle cash flow financing costs for both Buyer and Seller
30. 30 Documentary Collections Disguised open account transactions
Less secure than letters of credit
More secure than open account
Benefits
Don’t encumber buyer’s line of credit
Very inexpensive
Effective if properly structured
Use of correct Incoterms
Role of banks and freight forwarders
31. 31 Sight Collection (D/P)
32. 32 Time Collection (D/A)
33. 33 Documentary Collection Transaction Flow
Seller ships
Seller presents documents to National City
National City sends documents to a correspondent
Correspondent bank releases documents against:
Payment (if Documents against Payment – D/P)
Acceptance (if Documents against Acceptance – D/A)
Note: D/A terms represent more risk to the seller.
Correspondent wires funds to National City
National City pays seller
34. 34 Payment Method Variations CIA Variation
50% in advance, balance with order
100% upon shipment
LC Variation
Transfer
Assignment
Financing
Open Account Variation
Insured
Performance guaranty (Standby LC)
35. 35 Medium-Term Financing PNC is largest provider of Medium-term (typically up to 5 years) Financing to Foreign Buyers of Capital Goods under Eximbank’s Buyer Finance Program
Financed amount is the lesser of 85% of the sales contract or 100% of the U.S. content of the sales contract
Up to 30% of related local costs in the foreign country may be eligible for financing
Repayment is through semi-annual installments of P & I
Interest – floating or fixed each six months
Eximbank fees may be financed as part of the credit
Seller is paid out when shipment documentation is presented to PNC Bank; PNC receives payment directly from foreign buyer
Program is at no cost to Seller; PNC needs introduction to Foreign Buyer from Seller
36. 36 Export Credit Insurance Covers the risk of buyer nonpayment for commercial risks (e.g. bankruptcy) and certain political risks (e.g. war or the inconvertibility of currency) from qualified foreign buyers
Does NOT cover product quality/service disputes
Provides 90-95% commercial, 95-100% political coverage against buyer payment defaults
Premiums are only paid on actual shipments
Available through the U.S. Eximbank and other private insurers
Can improve cash flow by allowing you to include insured foreign receivables in your borrowing base by assigning the policy to a commercial bank
For Eximbank coverage, minimum 50% U.S. content required
Use an insurance broker!!!!
37. 37 “Examples and War Stories” Trust Gone Awry on a Documentary Collection
When the credit markets freezed up
“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is…”
In general, “Possibly trust, but verify…”
38. 38 Contact Information Bill Richeson, CTP
Senior Vice President
International Division
PNC Bank
Phone: (616)771-8849
e-mail: william.richeson@pnc.com
SWIFT: PNCCUS33ENJ
Global Client Care Center: 800-682-4689
39. 39