In simple terms, External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) means commercial borrowings availed (in the form of bank loans, trade credits, securitized instruments) from external source (from abroad) with a minimum average maturity of three years. The borrowings under ECB takes place in two channels namely automatic route and approved routes. The eligible borrowers like Corporate Importers,…
The Reserve Bank of India has relaxed rules for rescheduling/restructuring of ECBs by permitting an increase in the total cost of borrowing offshore. In suppression of earlier provisions, this year the banking regulator has delegated powers to the designated AD category-I banks to allow changes/modification in the draw-down and repayment schedules notwithstanding the average maturity period or…
The recognized overseas ECB lenders who are able to mobilise Indian Rupees may extend Rupee denominated loans to Indian companies. The lenders may enter into back-to-back swap transaction with AD-Category-1 banks to facilitate Rupee denominated lending. The recognized non-resident lender (financier from abroad) approaches his overseas bank with a request for a swap rate for…
As a measure of liberalization and to simplify the procedure, RBI in its circular of May 14, 2015 advised that it has been decided to dispense with the requirement of declaring the export of Goods /Software in the SDF in case of exports taking place through the EDI ports, as the mandatory statutory requirements contained…
(Generally, there are eight parties involved in letter of credit transactions, out of which four principal parties involved in any transaction. This article briefs about four principal parties and other four ordinarily involved in letters of credit transactions). Definition of Letter of Credit: Letter of credit (LC) is an undertaking letter issued by the importer’s…
(This post explains about LC on Sight Payment and LC on Usance terms, LC (Inland) and LC (Foreign), Freely negotiable and Restricted Letters of Credit, Uniform Customs and Practice (UCP) for Documentary Credits.) Definition of Letter of Credit: Letter of credit (LC) is an undertaking letter issued by the importer’s (buyer’s) bank wherein the seller…
A Standby LC is a form of irrevocable guarantee for a payment. Since American Banks are prevented from giving the guarantee in that country, the concept of ‘Standby LC’ came into existence. Standby Letter of Credit is an agreement wherein the buyer’s bank promises full payment of goods/services sold by him if the buyer fails to…
The government of India vide Gazette notification no.26011/01/2014-IC-I dated 9.1.2015 notified that all the existing ‘Person of Indian Origin’ (PIO) card holders shall be deemed to be Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders under Indian Citizenship Act of 1955. Now let us find out what it means to foreigners of Indian origin. Meaning of…
The extant ECB guidelines allow the local borrower to offer security to the overseas lender / supplier for securing ECB. According to the latest directions of RBI, AD Category-I banks may allow creation of charge on immovable assets, movable assets, financial securities and issue of corporate and / or personal guarantees in favour of overseas…
Foreign currency cheques A foreign currency cheque is one in which cheque amount is denominated in foreign currency like US Dollar, EURO, GBP, JPY etc. The personal -cheque, cashier cheque, travellers’ cheque, demand-draft etc. which are denominated in foreign currency are payable/ drawn on a bank outside India. Cash Letter Arrangement For collection of foreign…