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Friday, May 22, 2015

Types of Factoring and Important Definitions under the Factoring Regulation Act, 2011



In the previous post, we understood the basics relating to Factoring. In the present post, we shall understand the types of factoring prevalent in the present markets. I shall also talk about the important definitions related to factoring under the Indian Act. Lastly, I shall discuss briefly the United Nations Convention on the Assignment of Receivables in International Trade.

Types of Factoring[1]

1. Domestic Factoring – It is the usual form of factoring. The invoices are sold to the factor and the customer is informed. This includes Sales bill factoring and Purchase bill factoring.
2. Export factoring – This type of factoring is seen as an alternative to letter of credit, as the importers insist on trading in open account terms. Export factoring eases the credit and collection troubles in case of international sales and accelerates cash flows and provides liquidity in the business.[2]
3. Advance factoring – In case of the Advance Factoring, the factor provides financial accommodation and non-financial services. The factor keeps a margin while funding, which is called the assignor’s equity and is payable on actual collection.[3]
4. Maturity factoring – Here, the factor makes payment on a due date. This sort of funding is resorted to by assignors who are in need of non-financial services offered by the factors.[4]
5. Supplier guarantee factoring – This is also known as drop shipment factoring. This sort of factoring is common where the assignor acts as a mediator between the supplier and the customer.[5]

Important Definitions under the Factoring Regulation Act, 2011


1. Assignment [Section 2 (a)] – ‘‘assignment’’ means transfer by agreement, of undivided interest of any assignor in any receivable due from any debtor in favour of a factor and includes an assignment where either the assignor or the debtor, are situated or established outside India.
2. Assignee [Section 2 (b)] - "assignee" means a factor in whose favour the receivable is transferred.
3. Assignor [Section 2 (c)] - "assignor" means any person who is the owner of any receivable.
4. Netting Agreement [Section 2 (l)] - "netting agreement" means any agreement among the system participants for the purpose of determination by the system provider of the amount of money or securities due or payable or deliverable as a result of setting off or adjusting the payment obligations or delivery obligations among the system participants, including the claims and obligations arising out of the termination by the system provider, on the insolvency or dissolution or winding up of any system participant or such circumstances as the system provider, may specify in its rules or regulations or bye-laws, of the transactions admitted for settlement at a future date so that only a net claim be demanded or a net obligation be owned.
5. Financial Contract [Section 2 (k)] - "financial contract" means any spot, forward, future, option or swap transaction involving interest rates, commodities, currencies, shares, bonds, debentures or any other financial instrument, any repurchase of securities and lending transaction or any other similar transaction or combination of such transactions entered into in the financial markets.
6. Receivables [Section 2 (p] - "receivables" mean all or part of or undivided interest in any right of any person under a contract including an international contract where either the assignor or the debtor or the assignee is situated or established in a State outside India; to payment of a monetary sum whether such right is existing, future, accruing, conditional or contingent arising from and includes, any arrangement requiring payment of toll or any other sum, by whatever name called, for the use of any infrastructure facility or services.

UNCITRAL Law on Assignment


The United Nations Convention on the Assignment of Receivables in International Trade was adopted to facilitate availability of credit and capital. Article 2 (a) of the Convention defines ‘Assignment’ as –

“Assignment” means the transfer by agreement from one person (“assignor”) to another person (“assignee”) of all or part of or an undivided interest in the assignor’s contractual right to payment of a monetary sum (“receivable”) from a third person (“the debtor”). The creation of rights in receivables as security for indebtedness or other obligation is deemed to be a transfer.”

The definition covers both the creation of security rights in receivables and the transfer of full property in receivables, whether or not for security purposes. Further, the Convention defines receivables as contractual right to payment of a monetary sum and includes parts of and undivided interests in receivables. Also included are loan receivables, intellectual property licence royalties, toll road receipts and monetary damage claims for breach of contract, as well as interest and non-monetary claims convertible to money. The UNCITRAL stipulations also requires that notification of assignment of debt is to be given by either the assignor or the assignee, the assignee may not retain more than the value of its right in the receivable and notification of the assignment or a payment instruction is effective when received by the debtor. However, until the debtor receives notification of the assignment, the debtor is entitled to be discharged by paying in accordance with the original contract.

Article 3 of the Convention talks about international transactions. It says that a receivable is international if, at the time of conclusion of the original contract, the assignor and the debtor are located in different States. Similarly, an assignment is international if, at the time of conclusion of the contract of assignment, the assignor and the assignee are located in different States. We see that while most countries recognize the usefulness of this convention, the process of developing an international legal regime is never smooth.




[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.

1 comment:

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