DEFINING TRADE FINANCE
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. ABOUT US
DLA Piper is a global law firm with 4,200 lawyers located in more
than 30 countries throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe
and the Middle East, positioning it to help companies with their
legal needs anywhere in the world. The Finance and Projects
team advises on ground-breaking and award-winning trade
finance deals, assisting national and international clients wherever
they do business. A list of regional contacts can found at the back
of this booklet.
“DLA Piper’s structured trade and commodity finance group
has an excellent reputation for handling trade finance facility
transactions, with its global network of offices and regional contacts
paying dividends in terms of international support and visibility”
Chambers and Partners
01 | Defining Trade Finance
. A
DEFINING TRADE
FINANCE
AAR
Against all risks.
Acceleration
Early demand for repayment of a Facility. A creditor will
reserve to itself the right to declare a Facility due and
payable before its scheduled maturity date after an Event of
Default has occurred. The creditor may also have the right
to declare that a Facility is repayable on demand, although
not actually make demand for repayment.
Acceleration Clause
The clause permitting a creditor to demand early repayment
of a Facility after an Event of Default has occurred.
Acceptance
Signification by the Drawee of a Bill of Exchange of his
assent to the order of the Drawer. It must be in writing on
the Bill of Exchange and signed by the Drawee.
Acceptance Letter of
Credit
A Letter of Credit which provides that it will be honoured
by Acceptance by the bank with which the Letter of Credit
is available of a Bill of Exchange drawn by the Beneficiary.
Acceptor
A Drawee of a Bill of Exchange which has signified his
assent to the order of the Drawer in due form.
See also Acceptance.
Accession Letter
A letter which is signed by the original parties to a contract
together with a person who also wishes to become party to
that contract.
A form of accession letter is often scheduled
to a Facility Agreement or Security Document as a simple
mechanism to allow additional parties to accede.
Accomplished Bill of
Lading
See Spent Bill of Lading.
Accrue
To accumulate. Accrued interest is that interest which is
due. This does not necessarily mean it is payable yet.
Acknowledgement of
Assignment
An acknowledgement by the debtor of an Assignor
evidencing receipt of a Notice of Assignment.
Additional Obligor
A person that accedes to a Facility Agreement or a
Security Document during the life of a Facility.
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.
Administration
An insolvency procedure involving the appointment of an
administrator. An administrator takes control of the company
on behalf of all the creditors of the company generally to
manage its affairs, business and property with a view
to achieving one of three statutory objectives:
(a) rescuing the company as a going concern;
(b) achieving a better result for the creditors as a whole than
if the company was wound up; or
(c) realising property to make a distribution to Secured
Creditors.
The appointment of an administrator automatically imposes
a Moratorium on any enforcement or other legal action by
a creditor of the company.
Administration
Search
A search typically undertaken by a creditor’s lawyers on the
date that the Facility Agreement is entered into and/or
the date of Financial Close to check that the debtor is not
in Administration. Typically inconclusive because it is
not possible to search every court where a notice to appoint
administrators could be filed and because England and Wales
does not currently have a central registry recording
administrations.
Advance
See Drawdown.
Advance Payment
See Prepayment Finance.
Advance Payment
Guarantee
A form of Demand Guarantee issued to secure a refund to
a buyer under a contract of sale if the purchase price
(whether in all or part) has been paid in advance.
Advance Ratio
See Loan to Value Ratio.
Advising Bank
A bank instructed by an Issuing Bank under a Letter of
Credit, usually in the country of the Beneficiary, to
communicate the terms of the Letter of Credit to the
Beneficiary, to accept presentation of documents and to
effect payment under the Letter of Credit.
Agency Fee
An annual fee payable by the debtor to the Agent in a
Syndicated Facility structure.
03 | Defining Trade Finance
. Agent
(a) A general term for a person appointed to act on behalf of
a Principal entity or person. An agent has the power to
enter into contracts on behalf of the Principal.
(b) The person (usually one of the creditors) which
administers a Syndicated Facility and acts as a channel
of communication between the debtor and the
Syndicate.
Air Waybill
Document of carriage in respect of the carriage of goods
by air.
Allonge
A piece of paper attached to a Bill of Exchange when there is
no room on the Bill of Exchange for further Indorsements.
An exception to the rule that an Indorsement must be written
on the Bill of Exchange itself. Encountered principally in civil
law countries, in particular, those which have adopted the
Geneva Uniform Law on Bills of Exchange and Promissory
Notes.
AML
Anti-money laundering.
Amortisation
Repayment of the capital element of a debt over time,
often by an equal amount each year.
Amortising Facility
A Facility repaid by agreed payments over the Tenor of the
Facility. A Facility may be fully amortising or amortising to
a residual value.
Anticipatory Letter
of Credit
See Green Clause Letter of Credit and Red Clause Letter
of Credit.
APLMA
Asia Pacific Loan Market Association.
Applicant
The party who arranges for the opening of a Letter of
Credit (in respect of a Commercial Letter of Credit, the
buyer under the contract of sale).
Arbitrage
Taking advantage of discrepancies in prices or yields in
different markets.
Arrangement Fee
A one off fee payable by the debtor to the Arranger for
arranging the Facilit(y)(ies).
Arranger
The banking entity which agrees and negotiates a
Syndicated Facility.
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.
Assignment
The transfer of an asset from an Assignor to an Assignee.
Unlike a Security Assignment, an assignment is not subject
to the Equity of Redemption. An assignment may be either
an Equitable Assignment or a Legal Assignment.
Unlike the transferee of a Beneficiary of a Transferable
Letter of Credit, an Assignee of a Letter of Credit has
transferred to it the right to the proceeds of a Letter of
Credit but not the right to perform (i.e. present documents)
under the Letter of Credit.
Assignee
The person to whom an Assignment or a Security
Assignment is granted.
Assignment by way of See Security Assignment.
Security
Assignor
The person who grants an Assignment or a Security
Assignment.
Attornment
In respect of a Pledge over goods or documentary
intangibles, an agreement, typically by a third party, to hold
the goods or documents for a creditor instead of a debtor.
Provides the creditor with constructive possession of the
goods or documentary intangibles and together with an
intent to pledge creates and perfects the Pledge.
Autonomy of the
Letter of Credit
A fundamental principle of a Letter of Credit (the other
being Strict Compliance) according to which the Letter of
Credit is separate from and independent to the underlying
transaction giving rise to it. Absent fraud of the Beneficiary
or illegality in paying under the Letter of Credit, the bank
cannot otherwise refuse to make payment under the Letter
of Credit against presentation of documents complying with
the terms of the Letter of Credit.
This gives rise to the
closely connected principle that a Letter of Credit is a
transaction in documents and documents alone.
Availability Period
The period during which a Facility can be utilised.
Aval
Essentially a Guarantee in respect of a Bill of Exchange.
Recognised by many legal systems, particularly those of
states which have adopted the Geneva Uniform Law on Bills
of Exchange and Promissory Notes. It can be given either on
the Bill of Exchange itself or on an Allonge.
AWB
See Air Waybill.
05 | Defining Trade Finance
. B
Back to Back Letter
of Credit
A Letter of Credit under which the documents presented
may be presented (substituting at least the invoice) under
another Letter of Credit (e.g. a seller, as Beneficiary under
a Letter of Credit, requests the Advising Bank under that
Letter of Credit to open another Letter of Credit in
favour of the supplier of that Beneficiary on the security of
the first Letter of Credit).
See also Counter Letter of Credit.
BAFT-IFSA
Bankers’ Association for Finance and Trade/International
Financial Services Association.
BAFT-IFSA Master
Participation
Agreement
BAFT-IFSA standard form agreement for Funded
Participations and Risk Participations in Trade Finance
transactions.
Balloon Payment
A payment under a Facility that is larger than the other
repayments made over the Tenor of the Facility. Usually
made near the beginning or at the end of the Tenor of the
Facility.
Bank Guarantee
See Demand Guarantee.
Base Rate
The generally advertised rate of interest set by a creditor
calculated to include Mandatory Costs and Cost of Funds.
Basel Committee
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. A committee
established by the central bank governors of the Group of
Ten countries at the end of 1974.
The committee sets broad
supervisory standards which are then implemented by
national regulators called the Basel Accords (Basel I, Basel II
and Basel III). Its conclusions do not themselves have legal
force.
Basel II
The regulatory capital requirements published in June 2004
by the Basel Committee intended to replace those under
the original 1998 Basel Capital Accord and implemented in
the EU from 1 January 2007 by the European Capital
Requirements Directive. The global financial crisis meant that
banking supervisors began a fundamental reappraisal of
Basel II before it had even been consistently applied in
practice.
The reappraisal led to Basel III.
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. Basel III
The latest version of the Basel Accord regulations issued by
the Basel Committee following the global financial crisis
and designed to protect the banking industry from future
financial crises by requiring banks to maintain adequate
leverage ratios and capital to cover potential losses. Basel III
will result in all banks facing higher capital requirements and
will be implemented in the EU by CRD IV.
Basis Point
A subdivision of one per cent. One hundred basis
points equal one per cent so one basis point is equal to
0.01 per cent. This term is often used in stating the amount
of the Margin.
Also known colloquially as Bips.
Basket
The exceptions permitted to negative Covenants e.g. in a
Covenant not to incur additional indebtedness exceeding
US$100,000, the US$100,000 exception is the basket.
BBA
The British Bankers Association, the trade association for
the banking and financial services industry, representing
the interests of banks and financial services firms operating in
the UK.
Bearer
In respect of:
(a) a Bill of Exchange, the person in possession of a Bill of
Exchange which is payable to the bearer (i.e. which is
expressed to be so payable, or on which the only or last
Indorsement is a Blank Indorsement); and
(b) a Bill of Lading, the person in possession of a Bill of
Lading which makes the goods deliverable to the bearer
(i.e.
which is expressed to make the goods so deliverable,
or on which the only or last Indorsement is a Blank
Indorsement).
Bearer Bill of Lading
A Bill of Lading which makes the goods deliverable to the
Bearer. Unlike a Straight Bill of Lading or an Order Bill
of Lading it does not name the person to whom or to
whose order the goods are to be delivered. See also,
however, Order Bill of Lading which does not refer to a
named Consignee.
Beneficiary
The party to whom the undertaking of the Issuing Bank
(and the Confirming Bank in respect of a Confirmed
Letter of Credit) under a Letter of Credit is given.
Bible
A collated set of copies of all documents pertinent to a given
transaction prepared after Closing.
07 | Defining Trade Finance
.
Bilateral Facility
A Facility made available by a single creditor. Contrast with
a Syndicated Facility.
Bill of Exchange
An unconditional order in writing, addressed by one
person to another, signed by the person giving it, requiring
the person to whom it is addressed to pay on demand at a
fixed or determinable future time a sum certain in money
to or to the order of a specified person, or to the Bearer.
Bill of Lading
A document issued by or on behalf of a Carrier to the
Counterparty (usually referred to as the Shipper) to a
contract of carriage of goods by sea. Principal functions
include: (i) Document of Title; (ii) receipt by the Carrier;
(iii) evidences apparent condition of the goods; (iv) evidences
the terms of the contract of carriage; and (v) operates to
transfer contractual rights.
Bip
See Basis Point.
BIS
Bank for International Settlements. An international
organisation which fosters cooperation among central
banks in pursuit of monetary and financial stability.
Its head
office is in Basel, Switzerland.
B/L
See Bill of Lading.
Blank Indorsement
An Indorsement of a Bill of Exchange or a Bill of Lading
which specifies no Indorsee (in respect of a Bill of
Exchange) or transferee (in respect of a Bill of Lading).
A Bill of Exchange or a Bill of Lading so indorsed
becomes payable to the Bearer.
Boilerplate Clauses
Standard clauses dealing with the mechanics of the operation
of an agreement, e.g. the means by which notices may be
served.
Bona Fide
In good faith.
Bonded Warehouse
A warehouse in which goods are stored to defer payment of
any duty payable on such goods until entry into the domestic
market in which the warehouse is located.
Borrowing Base
Certificate
A certificate issued to a creditor by a debtor or an
independent third party certifying the value of assets against
which Borrowing Base Finance is provided (and may be
secured).
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. Borrowing Base
Finance
Finance provided (and often secured) against specified assets
(e.g. inventory, receivables, reserves typically at a Mark to
Market value), the availability of which is determined by
reference to a Loan to Value Ratio and may be subject to a
Top Up Undertaking.
See also Inventory Finance, In Tank Financing, Stock
Finance and Warehouse Finance.
Break Costs
Where money is borrowed for a particular period and is
repaid early, break costs may arise. These are theoretically
linked to the loss or cost to the creditor of having to redeploy
its underlying borrowings for the full period. It is common to
see (e.g. in LMA documentation) an obligation on a debtor
which wishes to prepay to pay the difference between the
amount which would have been payable had the Prepayment
not occurred, and the return available from depositing the
Prepayment with a bank in the interbank market.
Also called
Broken Funding Costs.
Broken Funding
Costs
See Break Costs.
Bullet Repayment
Where a Facility is repaid by a single repayment, often after
little or no Amortisation.
09 | Defining Trade Finance
. CAD
See Cash Against Documents.
Capital Adequacy
The rules requiring a bank to maintain a certain amount
of capital. This is determined by reference to the amount of
business which it does and the commercial risks associated
with that business. This capital is required to give depositors
confidence in banking institutions and to ensure that
adequate capital is available to be written off against losses.
An increase in capital adequacy requirements will give rise to
increased costs which the creditor will often seek to pass on
to its debtors.
Capital
Requirements
Directive IV
European Union directive (and related regulation) setting
out the capital requirements for credit institutions and
investment firms to ensure consistent application within the
European Union of Basel III.
Capitalisation of
Interest
Instead of paying interest, the debtor is permitted to add it
to the loan, i.e. to borrow to pay interest.
Carriage and
Insurance Paid
An Incoterm which may be used irrespective of the mode of
transport used.
The seller delivers the goods, cleared for
export, to the Carrier nominated by him. The seller
contracts (or procures a contract) for and pays the cost
of carriage to bring the goods to the named place
of destination and insures against the buyer’s risk of loss
of or damage to the goods during the carriage.
Carriage Paid To
An Incoterm which may be used irrespective of the mode of
transport used. The seller delivers the goods, cleared for
export, to the Carrier nominated by him.
The seller must
contract (or procure a contract) for and pay the cost of
carriage to bring the goods to the named destination.
Carrier
Any person who, pursuant to a contract of carriage,
undertakes to perform or procure the performance of
carriage by rail, road, sea, air, inland waterway or a
combination of such modes.
Cash Against
Documents
Indicated invoice amount to be paid by the buyer/importer
at sight on presentation of relevant commercial documents
e.g. Bill of Lading, insurance certificate, etc.
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C
. Cash Cover
An amount deposited by an Applicant with an Issuing Bank
or by an account party with the bank issuing a Demand
Guarantee in respect of the Contingent Liability of the
Issuing Bank or the bank issuing the Demand Guarantee
(as applicable) under the Letter of Credit or Demand
Guarantee (as applicable).
Cash Sweep
Also known as Locked Box. While a cash sweep is in
operation, any surplus income not required for debt service
is retained by the creditor and used to reduce the Facility
outstanding rather than released to the debtor. Where this
right is only exercisable if the creditor considers that a
financial Covenant is not being complied with it is known as
a soft Locked Box.
CBD
Cash before delivery.
Certificate of
Inspection
A certificate issued by an independent inspection
organisation certifying, at a minimum, that the inspector has
inspected goods and found them to be in apparent good
condition in relation to an inspection undertaken either
pre or post shipment.
Certificate of Origin
A certificate issued by a seller or a recognised third party as
to the place of growth, production or manufacture of goods.
Certificate of
Quality/Quantity
A certificate issued by a seller or recognised third party that
goods are of a particular quality or quantity. Absent fraud,
the certificate will be binding if so agreed between the
parties.
Certified Copy
A copy of a document which is certified by a solicitor or other
professional as a true and complete copy of the original
document.
CFR
See Cost and Freight.
CHAPS
Clearing House Automated Payments System.
An electronic
transfer system for sending real-time gross settlement
same-day value payments in sterling from bank to bank.
Charge
The right to appropriate an asset to discharge a debt such
that a creditor may look to that asset and its proceeds to
discharge the indebtedness in priority to unsecured
creditors and subsequent encumbrancers. Like a
Mortgage, a charge is a non-possessory Security. Unlike
a Mortgage, a charge does not transfer ownership of the
asset to the creditor.
A charge may be a Fixed Charge or
a Floating Charge.
11 | Defining Trade Finance
. Chargee
The person to whom a Charge is granted.
Chargor
The person who grants a Charge.
CIF
See Cost Insurance and Freight.
CIP
See Carriage and Insurance Paid.
Claim
Presentation of documents under a Demand Guarantee or
Letter of Credit.
Classic FOB
See Classic Free on Board.
Classic Free on Board See Strict Free on Board.
Claused Bill of Lading A Bill of Lading which is qualified by a statement of defect
in the goods.
Clean Bill of Lading
A Bill of Lading which bears no clause or notation which
declares a defective condition of the goods and/or packaging.
Clean Collection
A Collection involving financial documents (e.g. Bill of
Exchange) only.
Clean Down
A requirement for a debtor under a Revolving Facility to
reduce the level of borrowing to a specified level (even zero)
for a given period of time.
Clean Transfer
A transfer of a Facility by a creditor such that both the legal
and commercial risk in the Facility is transferred. This is
carried out to reduce the Capital Adequacy requirements
of the creditor in respect of the Facility.
Clog on the Equity of
Redemption
English law will not enforce any absolute impediment on the
debtor’s right to redeem a Charge or Mortgage. It similarly
prohibits a Mortgagee or Chargee obtaining a collateral
advantage from the grant of Security, e.g.
the grant of an
option to acquire the property charged. Both are
categorised as clogs on the Equity of Redemption.
Closing
Completion of the transaction. Often involves a meeting at
which the final documentation is signed.
Club Deal
A Syndicated Facility which may be arranged on a less
formal basis than a normal Syndicated Facility.
So far as the
debtor is concerned the documents are much the same. It is
only the Syndication process that is less formal. Often there
will only be two creditors who do not intend to sell down.
Co-financing
Where different creditors agree to fund under the same
documentation and Security packages yet may have
different interest rates, repayment profiles and Tenors.
See also Documentary Collection.
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.
Collateral
Management
Agreement
A tripartite agreement between a debtor, a creditor and a
Collateral Manager setting out, inter alia, the obligations of
the Collateral Manager which usually include
Undertakings to hold the relevant assets to the order of
the creditor and to regularly inspect and report to the
creditor on those assets.
Collateral Manager
An independent third party engaged pursuant to a
Collateral Management Agreement to protect the
interests of a creditor in the assets of a debtor against which
the creditor is financing and may be secured.
Collecting Bank
Any bank, other than the Remitting Bank, involved in
processing a Collection.
Collection
The handling by banks, in accordance with instructions
received, of documents in order to: (i) obtain payment and/
or Acceptance; (ii) deliver documents against payment
and/or against Acceptance; or (iii) deliver documents on
other terms and conditions.
See also Clean Collection and Documentary Collection.
Combined Bill of
Lading
See Through Bill of Lading.
Commercial Letter
of Credit
A Letter of Credit in respect of which the documents to be
presented for payment include commercial documents
relating to the goods (e.g. documents evidencing shipment of
the goods such as a Bill of Lading).
See also Standby Letter of Credit.
Commitment
An obligation by a creditor to make Facilities available.
Usually the obligation will be conditional on satisfaction of
Conditions Precedent.
Commitment Fee
A fee paid in return for a Commitment to lend money.
Commitment Letter
A letter setting out the terms on which a creditor may, in
principle, make Facilities available. Usually binding regarding
fees and any Break Costs which may be incurred prior to
execution of a Facility Agreement, but is otherwise
non-binding.
Committed Facility
A Facility available to a debtor on satisfaction of specified
conditions, rather than at the discretion of the creditor.
13 | Defining Trade Finance
. Company Voluntary
Arrangement
A procedure under which an insolvent company can make
proposals to its creditors for the payment of its debts.
The proposal will usually allow for a payment of only part of
the sums due. Creditors are entitled to vote on the
proposal, but if approved it binds all those creditors who
were given notice of the proposal.
Complying
Presentation
Delivery of documents under a Letter of Credit to the
Issuing Bank or a Nominated Bank or the documents so
delivered that is in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Letter of Credit.
Compound Interest
See Capitalisation of Interest.
Condition Precedent
A condition which must be satisfied by a debtor before a
Facility may be utilised. After the Facility Agreement has
been signed, no money can be borrowed until the conditions
precedent have been satisfied.
Condition
Subsequent
A condition of a Facility that is to be satisfied after
Utilisation. There is usually a time period specified.
Confirmed Letter of
Credit
A Letter of Credit to which the Advising Bank or
Correspondent Bank adds its own undertaking to that of the
Issuing Bank to honour or negotiate the Letter of Credit
(as applicable).
Confirming Bank
An Advising Bank or a Correspondent Bank which adds
its own undertaking to that of the Issuing Bank to honour
or negotiate the Letter of Credit (as applicable).
Consignee
The person specified as such in a Bill of Lading
(or Sea Waybill) to whom, or to whose Order (in
respect of a Bill of Lading) the goods are to be delivered.
Contingent Liability
An amount which may become due depending on future
events.
Correspondent Bank
An Advising Bank which is the Issuing Bank’s
correspondent in the country of the Beneficiary.
Cost and Freight
An Incoterm which may be used in respect of transport by
sea or inland waterway.
The seller delivers the goods on
board the vessel or procures the goods already so delivered.
The seller contracts (or procures a contract) for and pays
the costs and freight to bring the goods to the named port
of destination. The seller clears the goods for export.
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. Cost Insurance and
Freight
An Incoterm which may be used in respect of transport by
sea or inland waterway. The seller delivers the goods on
board the vessel or procures the goods already so delivered.
The seller contracts (or procures a contract) for and pays
the costs and freight necessary to bring the goods to the
named port of destination and obtains insurance against
the buyer’s risk of loss of or damage to the goods during
the carriage. The seller clears the goods for export.
Cost of Funds
The cost to a creditor of making Facilities available to a
debtor. A creditor’s cost of funds on a LIBOR Facility will
usually be LIBOR plus its Mandatory Costs.
These costs
are generally passed on by the creditor to the debtor.
Counterindemnity
An indemnity issued in respect of a Demand Guarantee by:
(i) the account party (analogous to an Applicant under a
Letter of Credit) in favour of that account party’s bank and
any other bank issuing the Demand Guarantee on the
instruction of that account party’s bank; (ii) the account
party’s bank in favour of any intermediary bank between the
account party’s bank and any bank issuing the Demand
Guarantee; and (iii) any intermediary bank in favour of the
bank issuing the Demand Guarantee, in each case in
respect of any amount paid under the Demand Guarantee
by the account bank, any intermediary bank or the bank
issuing the Demand Guarantee (as applicable).
Counter Letter of
Credit
In respect of a Back to Back Letter of Credit, the Letter of
Credit in respect of which the Applicant is the ultimate buyer.
Counterparty
A party to an arrangement or contract (e.g. the provider of
hedging is the hedge counterparty).
Countervailing
Letter of Credit
See Counter Letter of Credit.
Country Risk
An estimate of the likelihood of a state rescheduling its own
debt. This will prompt currency inconvertibility.
Sometimes
referred to as Sovereign Risk.
Covenant
(a) An agreement to do or not to do something. A breach of
a covenant in a Facility Agreement is almost invariably
an Event of Default, if not remedied within any
Cure Period.
Covenant Lite
A Facility Agreement with few (if any) financial Covenants
or to the extent they exist, are more lenient than usual.
(b) Often used to describe an entity’s financial worth.
15 | Defining Trade Finance
. CP
See Condition Precedent.
CPT
See Carriage Paid To.
CRD IV
See Capital Requirements Directive IV.
Credit Agreement
See Facilit(y)(ies) Agreement.
Credit Approval
A creditor’s credit or underwriting function approving the
provision of a Facility and setting out its terms.
Cross Default
An Event of Default under one Facility which is triggered
by a default of an Obligor under another Facility or other
financial obligation.
Crystallisation
The conversion of a Floating Charge to a Fixed Charge.
Whether this is automatic or by notice depends on the
wording of the Floating Charge. While the Floating
Charge has not crystallised the Chargor is free to dispose
of the assets charged. Once crystallised the Chargor cannot
do so, until it has discharged the Charge.
Cure Period
The period a debtor enjoys to remedy a Default before the
creditor is entitled to accelerate payment. Also referred to
as a Grace Period.
Customs Bonded
Warehouse
See Bonded Warehouse.
CVA
See Company Voluntary Arrangement.
CWO
Cash with order.
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.
D/A
See Documents Against Acceptance.
DAP
See Delivered At Place.
DAT
See Delivered At Terminal.
DDP
See Delivered Duty Paid.
Debt Service
The payments of interest and Principal due under a Facility
for a given period of time.
Deed
A special form of contract which complies with special rules
as to creation. Unlike a contract, a deed needs no
consideration to be given to be effective. Actions for breach
of a deed may be brought during the period of 12 years from
the breach. Certain transactions require the use of a deed,
e.g.
the grant of a power of attorney.
Deed of Priority
A contractual arrangement regulating the priority of
Security Documents of different creditors.
Deed of Release
The document by which a creditor discharges its Security in
whole or part. The deed of release can be executed in
escrow so as to take effect only on payment of the
redemption monies.
Default
Circumstances which would, with the expiry of any Grace
Period, giving of notice or making of any determination by
the creditors, be an Event of Default.
Default Interest
A higher interest rate payable after a Default or on an
overdue amount. Set at a level such that the rate exceeds
the rate at which the debtor could borrow elsewhere.
Deferred Payment
Finance
A form of Import Finance pursuant to which a creditor
purchases goods from a supplier and sells such goods on
deferred or extended payment terms to its debtor.
Deferred Payment
Letter of Credit
A Letter of Credit which provides for payment to be made
upon the expiry of a period from the presentation of
documents or the date of the relevant transport document.
Delivered At Place
An Incoterm which may be used irrespective of the mode
of transport used.
The seller delivers when the goods are
placed at the buyer’s disposal on the arriving means of
transport, ready for unloading at the named place
of destination. The seller clears the goods for export.
17 | Defining Trade Finance
. Delivered At
Terminal
An Incoterm which may be used irrespective of the mode of
transport used. The seller delivers when the goods are
placed at the buyer’s disposal, unloaded from the arriving
means of transport, at a named terminal at the named port
or place of destination. The seller clears the goods for
export.
Delivered Duty Paid
An Incoterm which may be used irrespective of the mode of
transport used. The seller delivers when the goods are placed
at the buyer’s disposal cleared for import ready for unloading
from the arriving means of transport at the named place of
destination.
The seller has to bear all the costs and risks
involved in bringing the goods thereto including any duty for
import.
Delivery
In respect of a Bill of Exchange or a Bill of Lading,
transfer of possession, actual or constructive from one
person to another.
Demand Facility
A Facility that is repayable on the demand of the creditor,
typically an overdraft.
Demand Guarantee
An independent, primary obligation of a bank to pay a
specified amount if the specified conditions for payment are
satisfied (normally presentation of a written demand for
payment by the beneficiary of the demand guarantee
together with any other stipulated documents).
Distinguishable from a suretyship guarantee in that the
guarantor’s obligations under a suretyship guarantee are
secondary or co-extensive in nature with those of the
Principal under the underlying contract. A demand
guarantee is similar in effect to a Standby Letter of Credit.
See also Advance Payment Guarantee, Bank Guarantee,
Performance Bond, Performance Guarantee,
Repayment Guarantee and Silent Payment Guarantee.
Derivative
A financial instrument based on an underlying contract, asset
or funding, such as a swap or option.
DFI
Development Finance Institution.
Discounting
Negotiation of a Bill of Exchange by a bank at a discount
to the amount payable under the Bill of Exchange (i.e. its
“face value”) typically equivalent to the bank’s rate of interest
from the date of Negotiation of the Bill of Exchange to the
date for payment under the Bill of Exchange.
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D
.
Dishonour
A Bill of Exchange may be dishonoured either for
non-payment or non-Acceptance.
Documentary Bill of
Exchange
A Bill of Exchange to which shipping documents (e.g. Bill
of Lading) are attached. If a sale and purchase agreement
provides for payment by Acceptance of the seller’s Bill of
Exchange in return for shipping documents, the seller
may send to the buyer a Bill of Exchange together with
the Bill of Lading to obtain the buyer’s Acceptance on the
Bill of Exchange.
Documentary
Collection
A Collection involving financial documents (e.g. Bill of
Exchange) and commercial documents (e.g.
Bill of Lading).
See also Clean Collection.
Documentary Credit
See Letter of Credit.
Document of Title
Term applied to:
a) a Bill of Exchange as a result of it being Negotiable; and
b) a Bill of Lading as a result of it being Transferable.
Documents Against
Acceptance
A Collection in respect of which the documents (e.g. Bill
of Lading) are delivered to the Drawee under the
Collection against Acceptance of the Bill of Exchange.
Documents Against
Payment
A Collection in respect of which the documents (e.g. Bill of
Lading) are delivered to the Drawee under the Collection
against payment of the Bill of Exchange.
D/P
See Documents Against Payment.
Draft
See Bill of Exchange.
Drawdown
Each occasion on which a debtor uses its Facilities,
e.g.
borrows money or requests the issue of a Letter of
Credit.
Also referred to as a Utilisation.
Drawdown Notice
The notice issued by a debtor to a creditor informing the
creditor that the debtor wishes to use the Facility, e.g. by
the creditor making a loan or issuing a Letter of Credit.
Also referred to as a Utilisation Request.
Drawee
In respect of:
(a) a Bill of Exchange, the person upon whom a Bill of
Exchange is drawn and who is thereby ordered to pay; and
(b) in respect of a Collection, the party to whom
presentation of the documents is to be made in respect of a
Collection.
19 | Defining Trade Finance
. Drawer
Person who draws the Bill of Exchange and gives the order
to pay.
Drawstop
The ability of creditors to decline to permit Drawdown
under a Facility, usually as the result of a Default.
Drop-dead Fee
A fee payable whether the underlying transaction
proceeds or not.
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. Equitable
Assignment
An Assignment which does not comply with s.136 of the
Law of Property Act 1925.
See also Legal Assignment.
Equitable Security
Assignment
A Security Assignment which does not comply with s.136
of the Law of Property Act 1925.
See also
.
Equity of Redemption The debtor’s right to redeem (i.e. pay off) a Security.
eUCP 600
See Uniform Customs and Practice Supplement for
Electronic Presentation 600.
Event of Default
A specified event or circumstance which entitles a creditor
to Accelerate a Facility. The circumstances giving rise to an
Event of Default are usually listed at length in a Facility
Agreement and heavily negotiated.
Evergreen Facility
A Facility that is automatically renewed at the end of each
agreed period until cancelled by one party.
Evergreen Letter of
Credit
A Letter of Credit (usually a Standby Letter of Credit)
which is automatically reinstated following the specified
Expiry Date unless the Issuing Bank gives notice that it is
to expire.
Exchange Control
Government regulations covering the inflow and outflow of
foreign exchange.
Exhausted Bill of
Lading
See Spent Bill of Lading.
Expiry Date
The date specified in a Demand Guarantee or Letter of
Credit following which documents cannot be presented.
Export Credit
Agency
Government related entity which facilitates the export of
goods of the relevant country principally by the provision
of: (i) guarantees of payment to banks which provide Export
Finance; (ii) support for Export Finance at favourable
interest rates; and (iii) export insurance.
Export Finance
See Pre-Export Finance, Post-Export Finance and
Prepayment Finance.
Expropriation
The seizing of assets e.g. in a nationalisation.
Extended Payment
Finance
See Deferred Payment Finance.
EXW
See Ex Works.
21 | Defining Trade Finance
.
Ex Works
An Incoterm which may be used irrespective of the mode of
transport used. The seller delivers when the goods are
placed at the disposal of the buyer at the seller’s premises or
another named place not cleared for export and not loaded
on any collecting vehicle.
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E
. Facilit(y)(ies)
An offer by a creditor to make financial accommodation
available, which might be a loan or some other financial
instrument e.g. a Letter of Credit.
Facilit(y)(ies)
Agreement
A document under which a creditor agrees to make a
Facility or Facilities available to a debtor. Usually the
creditor’s obligations are conditional upon satisfaction of
Conditions Precedent.
Facility Letter
See Facilit(y)(ies) Agreement.
Factoring
Assignment of receivables usually disclosed to the
debtors of the Assignee for the purpose of providing
finance to the Assignee and assisting the Assignee with
the administration of its sales ledger.
FAS
See Free Alongside Ship.
FATCA
The US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. A tax measure
which will come into force in stages from 1 January 2013 and
which obliges certain foreign financial institutions to enter into
an agreement with the US Internal Revenue Service in relation
to providing reporting to the US Internal Revenue Service on
the financial institutions’ US account holders or suffer a
potentially very substantial Withholding Tax on payments of
US sourced income and capital from 1 January 2014.
FCA
See Free Carrier.
FCL
Full Container Load.
FCR
See Forwarder’s Certificate of Receipt.
Fee Letter
A letter that sets out details of the fees payable by a debtor in
respect of a Facility e.g.
Arrangement Fee, Agency Fee.
Use of a separate letter means the amount of the fee is kept
confidential.
Financial Close
When all the financing documentation has been executed
and Conditions Precedent satisfied or waived. Drawdowns
under a Facility Agreement are then permissible.
Fine Trade Bill of
Exchange
A Bill of Exchange which bears the Acceptance of a bank.
First Loss Payee
The first person entitled to receive the proceeds of a
successful claim under an insurance policy.
Fixed Charge
A Charge which prohibits the Chargor from dealing with
the assets subject to it.
23 | Defining Trade Finance
. Fixed Charge
Receiver
A person appointed by a creditor holding a Fixed Charge
pursuant to a power contained in the Fixed Charge to
enforce the creditor’s Security. Although often referred to
as an LPA Receiver, this is technically inaccurate as the
receiver is appointed pursuant to an express provision
contained in the Fixed Charge rather than the Law of
Property Act 1925.
Floating Charge
A Charge which floats over the assets subject to it
(e.g. stock-in-trade), allowing the Chargor to deal with such
assets in the ordinary course of its business until the
Charge crystallises over the assets.
Floating Rate
An interest rate that is periodically reset during the Tenor
of the Facility, typically by reference to changes in LIBOR
or a creditor’s Base Rate.
FOB
See Free on Board.
Force Majeure
Events outside the control of parties to a contract, such as
acts of nature, governments or regulators. Contract
performance is forgiven or extended by a period of force
majeure.
Foreign Bill of
Exchange
A Bill of Exchange which is not an Inland Bill of
Exchange.
A foreign Bill of Exchange must be protested to establish
its Dishonour whereas an Inland Bill of Exchange need
not be (although it may be).
Foreign Trade Zone
Special commercial and industrial areas in or near ports of
entry where foreign and domestic goods may be brought in
without being subject to payment of customs duties.
Goods,
including raw materials, components, and finished goods,
may be stored, sold, exhibited, repacked, assembled,
sorted, graded, cleaned or otherwise manipulated prior to
re-export or entry into the national customs authority.
Duties are imposed on the goods (or items manufactured
from the goods) only when the goods pass from the zone
into an area of the country subject to the customs authority.
Foreign trade zones are also called Free Trade Zones, free
zones and free ports.
See also Bonded Warehouse.
Forfaiting
Discounting of Bills of Exchange or Promissory Notes on
a non-recourse basis to the Indorser.
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F
. Formal Demand
A demand for repayment of sums lent under a Facility
Agreement.
Forwarder’s
Certificate of Receipt
A receipt issued by a Freight Forwarder in respect of goods
received by it.
Forwarding Agent
See Freight Forwarder.
Foul Bill of Lading
See Claused Bill of Lading.
Free Alongside Ship
An Incoterm which may be used in respect of transport by
sea or inland waterway. The seller delivers when the goods,
cleared for export, are placed alongside the vessel at the
named port of shipment.
Free Carrier
An Incoterm which may be used irrespective of the mode of
transport used. The seller delivers the goods, cleared for
export, to the Carrier nominated by the buyer at the named
place. The seller is responsible for loading only if delivery
occurs at the seller’s premises.
Free on Board
An Incoterm which may be used in respect of transport by sea
or inland waterway.
The seller delivers the goods on board the
vessel nominated by the buyer at the named port of shipment
or procures the goods already so delivered. The seller clears
the goods for export.
See also Classic Free on Board, Simple Free on Board and
Strict Free on Board.
Free Trade Zone
See Foreign Trade Zone.
Freight Forwarder
A person engaged by a Shipper either as Principal or as
Agent of the Shipper whose principal duties are to procure
third parties to perform, inter alia, the carriage, storage,
packing and handling of goods.
FTZ
See Free Trade Zone.
Full Set
In respect of:
(a) a Bill of Exchange, typically two or three, the whole of
which constitute one Bill of Exchange; and
(b) a Bill of Lading, typically three or four each of which is
an original carriage document.
Although Bills of Lading remain commonly issued in sets,
Bills of Exchange issued in sets are rare.
25 | Defining Trade Finance
. Funded Participation
(a) A funding arrangement between a creditor under
a Facility Agreement and a third party (the participant).
The participant places funds with the creditor on terms
that those funds will only be repaid, and interest will only
be paid, when corresponding amounts of Principal or
interest are received by the creditor under the Facility
Agreement. A participant merely has a contractual right
to receive funds from the creditor and does not have a
beneficial interest in the Facility Agreement. Accordingly,
a participant takes credit risk both on the debtor and the
creditor. A participant under a funded participation has no
direct rights against the debtor.
A funded participation is
not usually suitable where the Facility being participated
is a Revolving Facility.
(b) If certain conditions are satisfied, a funded participation will
allow a creditor which is subject to UK accounting principles
and is regulated by the Financial Services Authority to obtain
Off Balance Sheet treatment for the participated Facility
(but not for undrawn Commitments).
Further Assurance
A clause imposing on the parties obligations to perform acts
in the future to give effect to a transaction occurring now
e.g. to serve a notice or complete a registration. Such a
clause provides a safety net to require cooperation if it
transpires something unpredicted needs to be done.
FX
Foreign exchange.
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.
Grace Period
(a) After a Default has occurred, days of grace may be
stated within which the Default may be remedied before
the right to Accelerate arises.
(b) A period when interest or Principal is not yet payable.
Green Clause Letter
of Credit
A variant of the Red Clause Letter of Credit also enabling
the Beneficiary to draw on the Letter of Credit in
advance of the shipment of the underlying goods but
requiring that the goods are stored in the name of the bank.
Gross Up
Generally a right given to a creditor under a Facility
Agreement to require an additional payment to be made by
the debtor if the amount of interest paid by the debtor is
reduced by the debtor being required to deduct
Withholding Tax from the amount payable. The gross up
clause entitles the creditor to receive the full amount due,
even if this is achieved by the payment costing the debtor
more than that.
Guarantee
An Undertaking to be answerable for the debt or default of
a third party. An accessory contract pursuant to which the
obligations of the guarantor are co-extensive with those of
the principal debtor. Contrast a Demand Guarantee.
27 | Defining Trade Finance
.
Haircut
Acceptance by a creditor of a reduction on its strict
entitlement. For example, a reduction in interest or fees or, in
the context of a loan sale, a sale at a discount to the par value
of the loan.
Hardening Period
The time between the date of a transaction and the date from
which the transaction is no longer vulnerable to be set aside
under the relevant insolvency legislation.
Heads of Terms
A relatively informal description of the terms of an
agreement reached on which final legal documentation is
based. Heads of terms are not usually binding.
G
Holder
The Payee or Indorsee of a Bill of Exchange who is in
possession of it, or the Bearer.
Holder for Value
A Holder of a Bill of Exchange in respect of which value
has at any time been given for that Bill of Exchange.
H
Holder in Due
Course
The Holder of a Bill of Exchange who has received it by
Negotiation, which is complete and regular on its face,
before it was overdue, without notice of Dishonour, in good
faith, for value, and with no notice of any defect in title of
the person who negotiated it.
Holding Certificate
Document issued by an owner or an operator of a storage
facility (e.g. a tank farm) or a Collateral Manager to a
creditor in respect of goods owned by a debtor stored at
the storage facility usually specifying that the goods are held
to the order of the creditor.
Honour
In respect of a Letter of Credit, to pay at sight (if it is a
Sight Letter of Credit); to incur a deferred payment
undertaking and pay at maturity (if it is a Deferred Payment
Letter of Credit); to accept a Bill of Exchange drawn by
the Beneficiary and pay at maturity (if it is an Acceptance
Letter of Credit).
Hypothecation
See Charge.
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.
Import Finance
Finance provided against the value of goods deliverable
pursuant to a contract of sale either in transit or following
import into country of destination (e.g. by way of issue of a
Letter of Credit in favour of the seller of the goods).
In Tank Financing
Inventory Financing in respect of which financing is
provided (and often secured typically by way of Pledge)
against inventory (e.g. oil, petroleum products) held in tank.
In the Money
In respect of a party to a Derivative transaction, a
transaction is in the money if early termination of the
transaction would give rise to liability of the Counterparty.
Incoterms ® 2010
The International Chamber of Commerce rules for the use
of domestic and international trade terms with entry into
force 1 January 2011.
Independent
Payment
Undertaking
An Undertaking issued by a buyer pursuant to a contract
for sale to make payment to the person to whom the
Undertaking is addressed against presentation of the
documents specified therein. Prevalent in the oil trade and
addressed typically to the financing bank of a seller under a
contract for sale to finance the seller’s own purchase of oil
under a back to back contract for sale.
As the Undertaking
is addressed to the financing bank, the financing bank has
recourse to the buyer which issued the Undertaking.
Indorsee
A person to whom a Bill of Exchange has been indorsed.
Indorsement
In respect of a:
(a) ill of Exchange, in order to operate as a Negotiation
B
must be written on the Bill of Exchange (or on an
Allonge) and signed by the Holder (the signature of the
Holder is sufficient) and completed by Delivery; and
(b) ill of Lading, in order to operate as a Negotiation
B
must be written on the Bill of Lading and signed by the
Consignee, the Shipper or a transferee of either of
them (each as applicable).
Indorsement in Blank
See Blank Indorsement.
Indorser
The former Holder of a Bill of Exchange who has indorsed it.
Information
Memorandum
A document detailing a financing, usually in connection with
its Syndication.
29 | Defining Trade Finance
. Inland Bill of
Exchange
A Bill of Exchange which is or on the face of it purports to
be both drawn and payable within the “British Islands” or
drawn within the “British Islands” upon some person
resident therein.
An Inland Bill of Exchange need not be protested to
establish its Dishonour (although it may be) whereas a
Foreign Bill of Exchange must be.
Insolvency Set Off
In the event of Administration (Rule 2.85 Insolvency Rules
1986) or Liquidation (Rule 4.90 Insolvency Rules 1986) of a
company an account shall be taken of what is due from each
party to the other in respect of mutual dealings, and the
sums due from one party shall be set-off against the sums
due from the other and only any balance owed by the
company is provable in the Administration or the
Liquidation (as applicable) of the company. Insolvency set
off is mandatory and cannot be excluded by agreement of
the parties.
Intercreditor
Agreement
An agreement entered into by debt and hedge providers to a
company, governing the priority of repayment and Security
between them. Commonly found in Syndicated Facility
transactions.
Interest Holiday
A period when interest is rolled up or capitalised rather
than being paid in cash by a debtor.
Interest Period
The period for which an interest rate is fixed or the period
at the end of which interest is payable.
Interest Ratchet
A method of changing the interest rate payable in respect of
a Facility depending on the financial performance of the
debtor or assets over which Security has been granted.
Intermodal
Transport Document
See Multimodal Transport Document.
International Standby Rules that apply to a Standby Letter of Credit when the
Practices 98
Standby Letter of Credit expressly states that it is subject
to the rules. They are binding on all parties thereto unless
expressly modified or excluded by the Standby Letter of
Credit.
Published by the International Chamber of
Commerce.
Inventory Finance
Borrowing Base Finance in respect of which finance is
provided (and often secured typically by way of Pledge)
against the value of inventory.
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I
. Inverse Order
In respect of instalments, the latest first. This term is usually
used in the context of the application of Prepayment
proceeds against the instalments in the repayment schedule
and means from the end, from the expected maturity.
IPU
See Independent Payment Undertaking.
Irrevocable Letter of
Credit
A Letter of Credit which can only be cancelled with the
consent of the Applicant, Beneficiary and the Issuing Bank.
UCP 600 can only apply to Letters of Credit which are
irrevocable.
ISDA
International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.
A global trade association representing participants in the
privately negotiated Derivatives industry. Responsible for
drafting the standard form ISDA Master Agreement.
ISDA Master
Agreement
The standard agreements published by ISDA on which most
hedging transactions are transacted.
ISDA Schedule
The schedule attached to the ISDA Master Agreement
which contains all the party and deal specific terms of the
arrangement between the parties. These include, inter alia,
the tax representations, documents to be delivered, and
certain key definitions.
Islamic Finance
Finance which complies with Islamic (Shari’ah) law.
Interest
cannot be charged. Instead the loan is structured using
discounts, sale/lease, profit participation or repurchase
agreements.
Murabahah Finance is a prevalent form of Islamic Finance
used in Trade Finance.
ISP 98
See International Standby Practices 98.
Issuing Bank
The bank which is requested by the Applicant to open a
Letter of Credit.
31 | Defining Trade Finance
. KYC
Know Your Customer used as a shorthand for the obligation
to comply with regulations relating to the avoidance of
money laundering.
K
www.dlapipertradefinance.com | 32
. L/C
See Letter of Credit.
LCL
Less than container load.
Legal Assignment
An Assignment or Security Assignment which complies
with s.136 Law of Property Act 1925 namely that it is:
(i) absolute (i.e. unconditional); (ii) of the whole of the debt
(and not part of it); (iii) in writing; (iv) signed by the
Assignor; and (v) notified to the debtor of the Assignor.
An Assignment which fails to meet any of these criteria will
be an Equitable Assignment. The distinction between a
Legal Assignment and an Equitable Assignment is of
limited practical importance.
Legal Security
Assignment
A Security Assignment which complies with s.136 Law
of Property Act 1925 namely that it is: (i) absolute
(i.e. unconditional); (ii) of the whole of the debt (and not part
of it); (iii) in writing; (iv) signed by the Assignor; and (v) notified
to the debtor of the Assignor.
A Security Assignment which fails to meet any of these
criteria will be an Equitable Security Assignment.
The distinction between a Legal Security Assignment and an
Equitable Security Assignment is of limited practical
importance.
Letter of Credit
An undertaking by a bank to pay (either immediately or at a
future time) against specified documents on terms that the
bank will be reimbursed by the Applicant.
Letter of Credit
Available by
Negotiation
A Letter of Credit which may be negotiated by a
Nominated Bank by Discounting the Bills of Exchange
presented to it under the Letter of Credit.
See also Negotiation Letter of Credit.
Letter of Indemnity
An indemnity issued by a seller to a buyer or a buyer to
a Carrier in respect of any loss which may be suffered by a
buyer or a Carrier (as applicable) as a result of the seller or
the buyer (as applicable) being unable to provide the buyer
or the Carrier (as applicable) with Bills of Lading.
Letters
of indemnity are prevalent in the oil trade.
Also applied to an indemnity offered by a Shipper to a
Carrier for any loss which may be suffered by a Carrier
resulting from the issue of a Clean Bill of Lading although
the Carrier is aware that the goods are not in apparent
good order and condition.
33 | Defining Trade Finance
. Lien
The right of a creditor to detain goods until money owed to
that creditor is paid. Of the various categories of lien, the
most relevant to Trade Finance is the common law
(or possessory) lien and the contractual lien. The former
arises by operation of law whereas the latter is created by
contract. Like a Pledge, a lien is a form of possessory
Security.
Unlike a Pledge: (i) a lien does not give rise to a
right of sale of the goods; and (ii) the goods are deposited
not for Security but for some other purpose (e.g. storage).
Limited Recourse
Finance
Finance pursuant to which the creditor’s recourse to the
debtor is limited to a specified amount or percentage of
the debtor’s indebtedness to the creditor. Often used in
respect of Prepayment Finance, the creditor’s recourse
for the remaining amount or percentage of indebtedness of
the debtor to the creditor is by enforcing its Security,
typically a Security Assignment.
LMA
Loan Market Association.
Liquidation
The process of realising the assets of a company for
distribution to the creditors or members of the company.
Liquidation can be compulsory or voluntary – either result
in the company’s dissolution.
Liquidator
The insolvency practitioner appointed to effect a
Liquidation of a company.
Loan Agreement
See Facilit(y)(ies) Agreement.
Loan to Value Ratio
Financial Covenant commonly used in Trade Finance
transactions which typically requires the indebtedness of the
debtor to the creditor to remain below a specified percentage
(reference to ratio notwithstanding) of the value (usually
Mark to Market) of the assets financed (which may also be
secured in favour of the creditor).
Locked Box
See Cash Sweep.
LOI
See Letter of Indemnity.
Loss Payee
The person to which an insurance loss payment or
settlement may be paid directly.
www.dlapipertradefinance.com | 34
L
.
LPA Receiver
A person appointed under the Law of Property Act 1925 by a
creditor holding a Fixed Charge over property to enforce
the creditor’s Security. An LPA receiver has the powers and
duties specified in and limited by the Law of Property Act
1925 but these can be modified by express provisions in the
Fixed Charge.
See also Fixed Charge Receiver.
35 | Defining Trade Finance
. MAC Clause
Material adverse change clause. Also known as a material
adverse effect or MAE clause. A clause permitting a
creditor to refrain from lending or to demand repayment
following the occurrence of unspecified adverse events,
which may be beyond the control of the debtor. Usually
heavily negotiated.
Mandate
(a) The formal appointment of a bank to advise on or
arrange a financing.
(b) The banking document which specifies the formalities
to be observed when operating a bank account,
e.g.
a requirement to have two signatures.
Mandatory Costs
A component of the interest charged to a debtor on a
LIBOR based floating rate Facility. In addition to LIBOR, the
Margin and any increased costs, the debtor has to pay this
additional cost which is usually calculated according to a
standard formula, suggested by the LMA. The mandatory
cost is the additional cost which a creditor incurs based on
the amount of their underlying borrowings including
supervision fees to the Financial Services Authority and the
cost of placing deposits with the Bank of England or
the European Central Bank.
Mandatory
Prepayment
An obligation imposed on a debtor to pay back all or part of a
Facility earlier than anticipated.
This may be to bring the
Facility back within the agreed financial Covenants or may
be due to some supervening event, e.g. it becoming illegal to
continue with the Facility. Contrast Voluntary Prepayment.
Margin
The profit component of an interest rate charged by a
creditor.
The margin is usually expressed as a percentage
rate per annum above LIBOR, Mandatory Costs and other
Cost of Funds or Base Rate.
Margin Call
A demand that a party to a Derivative transaction deposit
money or securities as security for the exposure of the
Counterparty to the transaction.
Marine Insurance
Broadly, insurance covering loss or damage of goods at sea.
The terms of the contract of sale normally provide whether
the costs of marine insurance are to be borne by the seller
or the buyer (see also CIF, FOB).
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M
. Mark to Market
The value of assets (typically goods) derived from their
market value rather than their historic value often
ascertained by reference to a specified market (e.g. London
Metals Exchange (LME), New York Mercantile Exchange
(NYMEX), Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) etc) or index
(e.g. Metal Bulletin in respect of non-ferrous metals and
steel markets), Platts (in respect of energy, petrochemicals
and metals) etc). Particularly relevant to Borrowing Base
Finance.
Market Flex
A creditor’s right to amend the terms of an existing loan
within certain pre-agreed parameters if an attempted
Syndication does not attract the required level of
participants.
Mate’s Receipt
Document issued by a shipowner acknowledging his receipt
of goods including their quantity and condition which may be
presented to the shipowner in exchange for Bills of Lading.
Mezzanine Debt
Higher risk, less well-secured debt.
Mezzanine debt usually
attracts a higher rate of interest than Senior Debt.
A Facility may be structured with various risk bands to
accommodate different creditors’ appetite for risk.
Moratorium
The statutory prohibition on enforcement of Security or
legal process that comes about as a result of an application
for Administration.
Mortgage
Transfer of ownership of an asset by way of Security
subject to the Equity of Redemption. A Mortgage is a
non-possessory Security.
Mortgagee
The person to whom a Mortgage is granted.
Mortgagor
The person who grants a Mortgage.
Multimodal
Transport Document
A document issued by a multimodal transport operator
pursuant to which the operator undertakes responsibility
for a cargo of goods from the time of receipt to the time of
delivery notwithstanding that two or more modes of
transport will be used in respect of the transit of the goods.
Murabahah Finance
A form of Islamic Finance Deferred Payment Finance
pursuant to which a creditor purchases an asset from a
supplier and sells it to a debtor on deferred or extended
payment terms with a fixed maturity date. The creditor
receives a deferred sale price comprising a cost price plus a
premium.
Mutatis Mutandis
The necessary changes being made.
37 | Defining Trade Finance
.
Negative Pledge
An Undertaking by a debtor to a creditor or third party to
a creditor in respect of finance provided by the creditor
to the the debtor that it will not grant Security over any of
its assets (other than Security in favour of the creditor in
respect of a secured financing).
Negotiable
An instrument which is negotiable is:
(a) Transferable; and
(b) capable, as a result of such transfer, of conferring upon
the transferee good title to the instrument irrespective of
any defect in the title of the transferor.
A Bill of Exchange is Negotiable (unless expressly
excluded – see also Non Negotiable). A Bill of Lading is
Transferable (if made Transferable – see also Bearer Bills
of Lading, Non Negotiable, Order Bills of Lading and
Straight Bills of Lading).
Negotiation
Negotiation, in respect of:
(a) a Bill of Exchange, occurs when it is transferred from
one person to another in such a manner as to constitute the
transferee the Holder of the Bill of Exchange. A Bill of
Exchange payable to the Bearer is negotiated by Delivery.
A Bill of Exchange payable to Order is negotiated by the
Indorsement of the Holder completed by Delivery;
(b) a Bill of Lading, see Transferable; and
(c) a Letter of Credit, occurs when the Nominated Bank
purchases Bills of Exchange (drawn on a bank other than
the Nominated Bank) and/or documents under a
Complying Presentation, by advancing or agreeing to
advance funds to the Beneficiary on or before the day on
which reimbursement is due to the Nominated Bank.
Negotiation Bank
A bank which has purchased documents to be presented
under a Negotiation Letter of Credit.
Negotiation Letter of
Credit
A Letter of Credit in respect of which the undertaking
of the Issuing Bank (and, in respect of a Confirmed Letter
of Credit, the undertaking of the Confirming Bank) are
directed to any bank which discounts any Bill of Exchange
and other documents specified in the Letter of Credit.
See also Letter of Credit Available by Negotiation.
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N
. Nominated Bank
The bank or banks with which a Letter of Credit is
available (i.e. at which the documents specified in the Letter
of Credit may be presented).
See also Advising Bank and Confirming Bank.
Non Negotiable
In respect of a:
a) Bill of Exchange, a Bill of Exchange which contains
words prohibiting transfer or indicating an intention that it
should not be Transferable; and
b) Bill of Lading, a Bill of Lading which makes the goods
deliverable to the Consignee only and does not contain
words providing for transfer, or contains words purporting
to prevent transfer.
Non Transferable
Letter of Credit
A Letter of Credit which is not designated as a
Transferable Letter of Credit.
Notice of Assignment Notice of an Assignment or a Security Assignment to the
debtor of the Assignor, which inter alia: (i) prevents that
debtor from making payment to the Assignor rather than
the Assignee; (ii) secures priority of the Assignee over a
subsequent Assignee; and (iii) is one of the required criteria
for a Legal Assignment or a Legal Security Assignment.
Notify Party
The party specified as such in a Bill of Lading to whom
notification of arrival of the goods should be given by the
Carrier.
Novation
A rewriting of a contract to allow both the benefit and
burden of a contract to be transferred to a new party.
A novation can only occur with the consent of all the parties
to a contract.
39 | Defining Trade Finance
. Obligee
The person entitled to enforce performance of an obligation
by another, the Obligor.
Obligor
The person required to perform an obligation.
Off Balance Sheet
A transaction that is not required to be shown in the
balance sheet of a company or in the consolidated balance
sheet of a group of companies.
On Demand
See Formal Demand.
Open Account
Payment by buyer to seller by way of telegraphic transfer,
mail or SWIFT transfer usually against documents of title to
the goods or delivery of the goods sold.
Order
In respect of:
(a) a Bill of Exchange, a Bill of Exchange which is
expressed to be so payable (e.g. to “x” or order or to the
order of “x”), or which is expressed to be payable to a
particular person, and does not contain words
prohibiting transfer or indicating an intention that it
should not be Transferable; and
(b) a Bill of Lading, see Order Bill of Lading.
Order Bill of Lading
A Bill of Lading which makes the goods deliverable to the
order of a person named in the Bill of Lading. The Bill of
Lading may either specify delivery to a named Consignee
or to his “order or assigns” (i.e made out to the order of the
Consignee) or merely to “order or assigns” without naming
a Consignee (i.e. made out to the order of the Shipper).
OTC
Over the counter. Bilateral trading of financial instruments
between the parties to them, rather than via an exchange.
Out of the Money
In respect of a party to a Derivative transaction, a
transaction is out of the money if early termination would
give rise to a liability of that party to the Counterparty.
Overriding Letter of
Credit
See Counter Letter of Credit.
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O
.
Packing Letter of
Credit
See Green Clause Letter of Credit and Red Clause Letter
of Credit.
Packing List
Used for, inter alia, freight calculation and customs purposes,
includes details of Consignee, vessel and port of departure
and contents and weight of each package.
Pari Passu
Ranking equally.
Participation
In the context of loan trading a back to back funding
arrangement with a third party. Participations are not usually
restricted under Facility Agreements. Participants are not
normally given the right to direct the creditor to vote under
the Facility Agreement in accordance with the participant’s
wishes except in limited circumstances. A participant does
not normally obtain any direct rights under the Facility
Agreement.
See also Funded Participation and Risk Participation.
Participation
Agreement
The agreement between a creditor and a third party in
respect of a Participation.
The Participation may have
beneficial effects for the original creditor’s Capital
Adequacy requirements.
Payee
The person specified in a Bill of Exchange to whom, or to
whose Order, the money is to be paid.
Payment Under
Reserve
If the bank to which documents are presented by a
Beneficiary under a Letter of Credit contends that the
documents do not comply with the terms of the Letter of
Credit, the bank may nevertheless be willing to make
payment under the Letter of Credit to the Beneficiary
against an indemnity issued by the Beneficiary or “under
reserve”. If the Applicant is not willing to take up the
documents as presented by the Beneficiary, the bank will
seek to recover the payment under the Letter of Credit by
claiming under the indemnity issued by the Beneficiary.
Performance Bond
A form of Demand Guarantee issued to secure a buyer if he
has a claim for damages against the seller for non-performance,
in particular non-delivery of the goods or delivery of defective
goods.
Performance
Guarantee
See Performance Bond.
41 | Defining Trade Finance
. Pledge
Actual or constructive delivery of possession of an asset to a
creditor by way of Security which, unlike a Lien, entitles the
creditor to sell the asset in the Event of Default by the
Pledgor. In practice, assets susceptible to a pledge are goods
and documentary intangibles (e.g. Bills of Lading, Bills of
Exchange, Promissory Notes). Like a Lien, a pledge is a
form of possessory Security.
Pledgee
The person to whom a Pledge is granted.
Pledgor
The person who grants a Pledge.
Post-Export Finance
Finance provided to a seller by Discounting Bills of
Exchange presented by the seller in respect of a
Collection, a Letter of Credit Available by Way of
Negotiation or a Negotiation Letter of Credit, or by
prepaying a Deferred Payment Letter of Credit.
Pre-Export Finance
Finance provided (and often secured by way of Security
Assignment) against the value of receivables payable in
respect of the export of goods.
Preference
An arrangement between a debtor and a creditor (such as
granting Security) which is intended to put the creditor in a
better position than other creditors in the event of the
debtor’s insolvency.
These types of arrangements may be set
aside in the event of the debtor’s insolvency.
Preferential
Creditors
Those creditors of a company listed in schedule 6 of the
Insolvency Act 1986 who are due payment of debts from an
insolvent company ahead of creditors holding only Floating
Charges and unsecured creditors. After 15 September 2003
the Crown is no longer a preferred creditor leaving
employees’ claims for wages and holiday pay together with
contributions to occupational pension schemes.
Prepayment
Repayment of amounts before their scheduled dates for
repayment. If obligatory rather than optional, it is referred
to as Mandatory Prepayment.
Prepayment Fee
Fee payable by a debtor when a Facility is prepaid (in full or
in part) prior to the expiry of the Tenor to compensate the
creditor for its loss of anticipated profit on the loan.
Prepayment Finance
A form of Export Finance pursuant to which a buyer makes
payment for goods in advance of their delivery.
A buyer may
finance such payment in advance by way of Limited
Recourse Finance.
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P
. Prescribed Part
Pursuant to section 176A of the Insolvency Act 1986, a
specified proportion of a company’s net property (Ring
Fenced Fund) which is applied towards payment of
unsecured debts as opposed to holders of a Floating
Charge (except in so far as it exceeds the prescribed
statutory maximum or the amount required for the
satisfaction of unsecured debts).
Presenting Bank
The Collecting Bank making presentation of the documents
to the Drawee in respect of a Collection.
Principal
(a) The capital element of a debt.
(b) The person appointing an Agent who is bound by the
Agent’s actions.
(c) In respect of a Collection, the party (usually the seller)
entrusting the handling of a Collection to the bank.
Promissory Note
An unconditional promise in writing made by one person to
another signed by the maker, engaging to pay, on demand or
at fixed or determinable future time, a sum certain in money
to, or to the order of, a specified person or to the Bearer.
Protest
A formal declaration that a Bill of Exchange has been
dishonoured made by a notary public.
A Foreign Bill of Exchange must be protested to establish
its Dishonour whereas an Inland Bill of Exchange need
not be (although it may be).
43 | Defining Trade Finance
. Rating
A ranking of creditworthiness or ability to repay, usually
grades of A to E. Ratings are often provided by a Rating
Agency.
Rating Agency
Organisations which produce Ratings. Rating agencies
include Standard & Poor’s, Fitch and Moody’s.
RCF
See Revolving Facility.
Received Bill of
Lading
A Bill of Lading which states that the goods have been
received by the Carrier for shipment.
Recharacterisation
Recharaterisation of a sale and purchase as a loan against
Security (which will be void for lack of registration).
Red Clause Letter of
Credit
A Letter of Credit enabling the Beneficiary to draw on the
Letter of Credit in advance of the shipment of the
underlying goods which is payable against documents other
than transport documents. The clause permitting the
Beneficiary to draw on the Letter of Credit in advance is
traditionally printed in red.
Typically used by the
Beneficiary to finance its own purchase or production of
the goods.
Remitting Bank
The bank to which the Principal has entrusted the handling
of a Collection.
Repayment
Guarantee
See Advance Payment Guarantee.
Repeating
Representation
A Representation that is deemed repeated at specified
times, including each time that a client makes a Utilisation
Request.
Repo
See Repurchase Finance.
Representation
Any express or implied statement made by one of the
parties to a contract to another, regarding a particular fact
or circumstance.
Repurchase Finance
A form of Inventory Finance pursuant to which a creditor
purchases goods from a debtor and sells the goods back to
the debtor following the expiry of a specified period.
Reserved Based
Finance
Borrowing Base Finance provided against the value of
reserves (e.g. oil).
Revocable Letter of
Credit
A Letter of Credit which may be cancelled or amended by
the bank undertaking to pay, without the consent of
the Beneficiary.
UCP 600 cannot apply to Letters of Credit which are
revocable.
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R
. Revolver
See Revolving Facility.
Revolving Facility
At the end of each Interest Period of a revolving facility
loans must be repaid but may then be immediately redrawn.
Revolving Letter of
Credit
A Letter of Credit for which the credit limit is not limited
to a fixed amount but rather is restored as provided for in
the Letter of Credit (e.g. by reference to a period of time
or shipment).
Ring Fenced Fund
See Prescribed Part.
Risk Participation
A funding arrangement between a creditor under a Facility
Agreement and a third party (participant) pursuant to which
the participant undertakes to pay to the creditor funds
corresponding to Principal or interest due and payable by
the debtor to the creditor under the Facility Agreement in
the event that the creditor does not receive such funds from
the debtor.
A participant may have rights to influence how the creditor
exercises its discretion under the Facility Agreement but
usually only when the risk participation relates to the whole
of the creditor’s Commitment and loans. Risk participations
are particularly appropriate in respect of Revolving
Facilities or where the creditor’s Commitment relates to a
Contingent Liability such as a Letter of Credit.
45 | Defining Trade Finance
. Sea Waybill
A document which is not a Bill of Lading but is such a
receipt for goods as contains or evidences a contract for the
carriage of goods by sea and identifies the person to whom
delivery of the goods is to be made by the Carrier in
accordance with that contract.
Unlike a Bill of Lading, it is non-Transferable. Presentation
of the sea waybill by the Consignee is not, however,
required to take delivery of the goods.
Secured Creditor
A creditor having the benefit of a Security over the assets
of a debtor or a third party.
Security
Charge, Mortgage, Lien or Pledge.
Security Agent
See Security Trustee.
Security Assignment
Transfer of title to an asset by way of Security (Mortgage)
with the Assignor having the right to have such asset
reassigned to it upon discharge of its indebtedness (see
Equity of Redemption). A security assignment may either
be an Equitable Security Assignment or a Legal Security
Assignment.
In Trade Finance, a security assignment is commonly used
in respect of receivables.
Security Documents
A generic description of the suite of documents by which
Security granted in respect of a Facility is created and
evidenced.
Security Trust Deed
A document used in connection with a Syndicated Facility
pursuant to which a Security Agent or Security Trustee,
usually one of the creditors in the Syndicate, agrees to hold
Security granted to the Syndicate on Trust for the
Syndicate.
Security Trustee
In a Syndicated Facility the entity in whose favour all
the Security Documents are entered into and who holds
the Security created on Trust for the Syndicate from time
to time.
Senior Debt
The part of a loan that is repayable first. Contrast with
Mezzanine Debt.
Set Off
The discharge of reciprocal obligations to the extent of the
smaller obligation.
The relevant party applies a claim owed
to him against a claim or liability owed by him.
Shari’ah Financing
See Islamic Finance.
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S
. Shipped Bill of Lading A Bill of Lading which states that the goods have been
shipped (i.e. put on board the carrying vessel).
Shipper
A seller of goods which is party to a contract of carriage of
goods by sea.
Sight Bill of Exchange
A Bill of Exchange which is expressed to be payable on
demand, or at sight, or on presentation or in which no time
for payment is expressed.
Sight Letter of Credit A Letter of Credit which provides for payment upon
presentation of documents allowing time only for
examination of the documents for compliance with the
Letter of Credit.
Silent Confirmation
Confirmation of a Letter of Credit by an Advising Bank
without the authorisation of the Issuing Bank.
Silent Participation
A Participation entered into without the knowledge of the
debtor.
Silent Payment
Guarantee
A form of Demand Guarantee in respect of which the
account party (analogous to the Applicant under a Letter
of Credit) is the seller rather than the buyer under the
related contract of sale. Used principally in the oil trade in
circumstances in which a seller requires Security for
non-payment by a buyer without knowledge of the buyer.
Simple FOB
See Simple Free on Board.
Simple Free on Board Free on Board in respect of which the buyer nominates the
vessel onto which the goods are to be delivered on board by
the seller pursuant to a contract of carriage entered into
between the buyer (or its Agent e.g. Freight Forwarder)
and the Carrier.
Skim
The part of a Margin retained by a creditor when it
participates or Syndicates the Facility.
Snooze and Lose
A provision whereby consent is deemed to have been given
to a request if a refusal is not given in a stated period of time.
Sole Loss Payee
The only person to whom an insurer will pay the proceeds
of a successful insurance claim.
Sovereign Risk
See Country Risk.
Special Indorsement
Indorsement of a Bill of Exchange which specifies the
person to whom, or to whose Order the Bill of Exchange
is to be payable.
Specially Advised
Letter of Credit
See Straight Letter of Credit.
47 | Defining Trade Finance
.
Spent Bill of Lading
A Bill of Lading in respect of which the goods covered by it
have been delivered to the person entitled to delivery under
the Bill of Lading.
SPG
See Silent Payment Guarantee.
Standby Letter of
Credit
A Letter of Credit where the documents to be presented
for payment do not include commercial documents relating
to the goods (e.g. documents evidencing shipment of the
goods such as a Bill of Lading). Similar in effect to a
Demand Guarantee.
See also Commercial Letter of Credit.
Stock Finance
See Inventory Finance.
Storage Finance
See Inventory Finance.
Straight Bill of Lading A Bill of Lading which makes the goods deliverable to the
Consignee only and does not contain wording providing for
transfer, or contains wording purporting to prevent transfer.
Straight Letter of
Credit
A Letter of Credit in respect of which the undertaking
of the Issuing Bank (and, in respect of a Confirmed Letter
of Credit, the undertaking of the Confirming Bank) are
directed only to the Beneficiary.
Strict Compliance
A fundamental principle of a Letter of Credit (the other
being the Autonomy of the Letter of Credit), according to
which the bank is entitled to reject documents which do not
strictly conform to the terms of the Letter of Credit.
Strict FOB
See Strict Free on Board.
Strict Free on Board
Free on Board in respect of which the buyer nominates the
vessel onto which the goods are to be delivered on board by
the seller pursuant to a contract of carriage entered into
between the seller and the Carrier but for the account of the
buyer.
Subordinated Debt
Debt which cannot generally be repaid until other debt
(usually called Senior Debt) has been repaid in full.
Sometimes the senior creditor will allow payments of
interest and Principal to the subordinated creditor as long
as there is no Default under its own Facility.
Subordination
A rearrangement of the order in which payments of debt are
to be made. The subordinated person agrees to accept its
debt cannot be repaid until indebtedness to a third party is
repaid in full.
Strictly, subordination does not deal with the
priority of Security, but often a document subordinating
debt will also alter the priority of those interests.
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. Subrogation
A person who has discharged the indebtedness of a debtor
is entitled as a result to enjoy the benefit of any Security
held by the creditor to whom payment has been made.
Supply Chain Finance
A financing product in which a creditor provides credit
support for the distribution of goods by the early settlement
of a supplier’s invoices, but does not need to take Security
from the supplier, relying primarily on the direct Covenant of
the purchaser (which is effectively, its client) for
reimbursement.
SWIFT
A service which permits financial messages (such as ISDA
confirmations) to be sent securely so that recipients can rely
on the identity of the sender.
Syndicate
The group of creditors participating in a Syndicated Facility.
Syndicated Facility
A Facility under which creditors participate severally,
i.e. without liability should another creditor fail to honour
its obligations. The Facility may start out as a Bilateral
Facility but contain provisions enabling the original creditor
to transfer elements of the Facility to other creditors.
The Facility is usually administered by the Agent.
Syndication
The process under which a creditor in a Syndicated
Facility transfers some or all of its Commitment and loan
to a new creditor.
49 | Defining Trade Finance
. Tenor
The period for which a loan or debt instrument is to be
outstanding.
Term
See Tenor.
Term Bill of
Exchange
See Time Bill of Exchange.
Term Facility
A Facility that is available to the debtor for the Tenor.
The creditor may only seek repayment in accordance with the
provisions of the Facility Agreement. Contrast a Demand
Facility.
Term Sheet
See Heads of Terms.
Termination
The expiry of a contractual relationship either by effluxion
of time or service of notice.
Termination Event
See Event of Default.
Through Bill of
Lading
In respect of the transit of goods involving multiple stages, a
Bill of Lading by which the Carrier undertakes to carry the
goods for the sea stage of the transit and either carry the
goods for all other stages of transit or arrange contracts with
Carriers in respect of such other stages of transit.
Time Bill of Exchange A Bill of Exchange which is expressed to be payable at a
fixed period after date or sight or on or at a fixed period
after the occurrence of a specified event which is certain to
happen.
Time Draft
See Time Bill of Exchange.
Top Up Undertaking
An Undertaking by a debtor to prepay a portion of the
finance provided by a creditor or to provide additional
quantities of assets in order to restore the Loan to Value
Ratio to the specified percentage.
Trade Finance
Short-term lending to finance reserves, inventories, or
receivables, where the exposure will be repaid from the
proceeds of the sale of an underlying asset.
Tranche
Part of a Facility, often categorised by the use to which
that part of the Facility may be put, or by the Margin to be
charged.
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T
. Transferable
The rights arising under an instrument which is transferable
can be transferred by Delivery of the instrument (together
with any necessary Indorsement). An instrument which is
merely transferable and not Negotiable, confers upon the
transferee, only such interest as the transferor had and
the transferee does not take free from the transferor’s
defects in title.
A Bill of Lading is transferable (i.e transfer operates as a
transfer of constructive possession of the goods and may,
if so intended (e.g, as specified in a contract of sale), operate
as a transfer of the title to them) if made transferable (see
also Bearer Bill of Lading, Non Negotiable, Order Bill of
Lading and Straight Bill of Lading).
A Bill of Exchange is Negotiable unless expressly excluded
(see also Non Negotiable).
Transferable Letter
of Credit
A Letter of Credit designated as such in respect of which
the Beneficiary may request (although not require) the
appropriate bank to make the Letter of Credit available to
one or more other parties. Typically used by the
Beneficiary of the Letter of Credit to pay its supplier.
A transferable Letter of Credit avoids the risk inherent in a
Back to Back Letter of Credit that documents which are
accepted and paid against under a Letter of Credit issued
on the Security of another Letter of Credit are not
accepted and paid against under that other Letter of Credit.
A transferable Letter of Credit is not a Transferable
instrument.
See also Assignment.
Trust
An arrangement whereby ownership of property (including
receivables) is held strictly by one person for the benefit of
another person. In order to create a valid trust there must
be three certainties:
(a) certainty of objects – the words used to create the trust
must be clear;
(b) certainty of subject matter – the trust property must be
clearly defined or capable of ascertainment;
(c) certainty of objects – the beneficiaries of the trust must
be clearly defined or capable of ascertainment.
51 | Defining Trade Finance
.
Trust Receipt
Mechanism by which goods or Bills of Lading in respect of
which the bank has been granted a Pledge are released to
the Pledgor for the purpose of sale against an
acknowledgement by the Pledgor that it holds the goods
and the proceeds of sale on trust for the bank, the effect of
which is that the bank’s possession for the purposes of the
Pledge is maintained. Typically used to allow a bank to
release goods or Bills of Lading to a Pledgor to repay
financing provided by the bank to the Pledgor from the
proceeds of sale of the goods.
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. UCP 600
See Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary
Credits 600.
Unconfirmed Letter
of Credit
A Letter of Credit to which the Advising Bank does not
add its own undertaking to that of the Issuing Bank to
honour or negotiate the Letter of Credit (as applicable).
Undertaking
A legal promise.
Uniform Customs
and Practice for
Documentary
Credits 600
Published by the International Chamber of Commerce, rules
that apply to a Letter of Credit (including any Standby
Letter of Credit to the extent applicable) when the Letter
of Credit expressly states that it is subject to the rules.
They are binding on all parties thereto unless expressly
modified or excluded by the Letter of Credit. The rules are
intended to supersede the Uniform Customs and Practice
for Documentary Credits 500 (being the terms operative
from 1993 to 2007).
Uniform Customs
and Practice
Supplement for
Electronic
Presentation 600
A supplement to the Uniform Customs and Practice for
Documentary Credits 600 applicable to a purely electronic
Letter of Credit (i.e. in respect of which documents are
presented by the Beneficiary in electronic rather than paper
form).
Uniform Rules for
Collections 1995
Published by the International Chamber of Commerce, rules
that apply to a Collection when the seller and the buyer
agree that the Collection is to be subject to the rules.
Uniform Rules for
Demand
Guarantees 758
Published by the International Chamber of Commerce, rules
that apply to a Collection by agreement of the parties to
the Collection.
Upstream
From a subsidiary to a parent (e.g. an upstream Guarantee
is a Guarantee of the parent company given by the
subsidiary).
URC 1995
See Uniform Rules for Collections 1995.
URDG 758
See Uniform Rules for Demand Guarantees 758.
Usuance Bill of
Exchange
See Time Bill of Exchange.
Usuance Draft
See Usuance Bill of Exchange.
Utilisation
See Drawdown.
Utilisation Request
See Drawdown Notice.
53 | Defining Trade Finance
.
Voluntary
Prepayment
The payment of an obligation prior to its due date at the
option of the debtor. Often attracts a fee.
U
V
www.dlapipertradefinance.com | 54
. Warehouse Finance
Inventory Financing in respect of which the financing is
provided (and often secured typically by way of Pledge)
against inventory (e.g. metals, agricommodities) held in
warehouse.
Warehouse Receipt
Document issued by a warehouseman to a creditor in
respect of goods owned by a debtor stored in a warehouse
usually specifying that the goods are held to the order of the
creditor.
Warehouse Warrant
See Warehouse Receipt.
Wharfinger
Also wharf inspector, wharf superintendent and dock
superintendent. Personnel in charge of receiving and
registering goods in a port on behalf of the Carrier.
A wharfinger’s signature of the shipping note assures the
Shipper that it can proceed to draw up the Bill of Lading
pursuant to the terms of the note.
Winding Up
The process of liquidating a company’s assets for distribution
to its members or creditors.
Winding Up Search
A search of the Central Index of Winding Up Petitions at the
High Court in London.
Withholding Tax
A tax on interest, rent or dividend payments, usually where
paid overseas. It is usually required to be deducted at source
by the payer unless paid to a person considered safe by the
authorities to account for the tax, e.g.
a qualifying creditor.
55 | Defining Trade Finance
. Yank the Bank
A right for a debtor of a Syndicate of creditors to require a
dissenting creditor to be replaced.
W
www.dlapipertradefinance.com | 56
Y
. Contact the team
Asia Pacific
Asia
Carolyn Dong
Paul Lee
Partner (Foreign Legal
Consultant – PRC)
Head of Energy – China
(Finance & Projects)
T +86 10 8520 0601
+852 2103 0505
carolyn.dong@
dlapiper.com
Partner
T +852 2103 0886
paul.lee@dlapiper.com
Monique Stella
Partner
T +61 3 9274 5409
monique.stella@
dlapiper.com
Caroline Monks
Senior Associate
T +61 3 9274 5085
caroline.monks@
dlapiper.com
Australia
Europe and Africa
Charles Morrison
Partner
T +44 (0)20 7796 6444
charles.morrison@
dlapiper.com
57 | Defining Trade Finance
James Willcock
Senior Associate
T +44 (0)20 7153 7229
james.willcock@
dlapiper.com
. Middle East
Debbie Barbour
Partner
T +971 2 494 1524
debbie.barbour@
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THE AMERICAS
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Partner
T +1 212 335 4736
robert.gruendel@
dlapiper.com
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