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Title: To Chief Executive Officers of All General Insurers (except ECGC)
Reference No.: IRDAI/NL/CIR/CRE/044/03/2016
Date: 10/03/2016
Guidelines on Trade Credit Insurance
Introduction
The Authority had issued guidelines on trade credit Insurance on 13-12-2010 vide circular ref IRDA/NL/CIR/Cre/205/12/2010, to regulate the business of Credit Insurance in India. In the recent times, the changes in economy, especially in micro, small, medium enterprise sector has increased the need for trade credit and has enhanced the scope for the credit insurance sector, manifold. Therefore, in order to give fillip to the growth of credit insurance market, it is felt necessary to revisit the above guidelines which regulate the credit insurance business in India.
The Authority hereby issues the revised guidelines on Trade Credit Insurance under Section 14 of the IRDA Act 1999. These guidelines come into force with immediate effect.
These guidelines, supersede the “IRDA’s guidelines on trade credit insurance” issued by the Authority on 13-12-2010 vide circular ref IRDA/NL/CIR/Cre/205/12/2010.
                             I.Definitions
 
a.    “Buyer means any person/ business entity, who is liable to pay policy-holder, for a trade credit transaction on open and agreed terms.
b.    Credit Limit” is the credit limit set by the insurer for every buyer with whom the policy holder trades. The level of the limit is set at the maximum amount in normal circumstances that can be owed by the buyer at any time. Limits shall be assessed by seller applying principles of prudence and granted at a suitable level, depending on the credit worthiness of the buyer.
 
 
c.    Factoring means the business of acquisition of receivables of assignor by accepting assignment of such receivables or financing, whether by way of making loans or advances or otherwise against the security interest over any receivables
d.    Financial Guarantee is understood as comprising any bond, guarantee, indemnity or insurance, covering financial obligations in respect of any type of loan, personal loan and leasing facility, granted by a bank/credit institution, financial institution or financier, or issued or executed in favour of any person or legal entity in respect of the payment or repayment of borrowed money or any contract, transaction or arrangement -primary purpose of which is to raise finance or secure sums due in respect of borrowed money.
e.    Granted credit limit is the maximum insured credit line for a specific buyer and the policyholders can trade on an insured basis within the approved credit limit throughout the policy period without further reference to the insurer.
f.     Insolvency (Bankruptcy) A judicial or administrative procedure whereby the assets and affairs of the buyer are made subject to control or supervision in the jurisdiction defined under the policy by the court or a person or body appointed by the court or by law, for the purpose of reorganization or liquidation of the buyer or of the rescheduling, settlement or suspension of payment of its debts.
g.    Maximum liability amount is maximum loss that can be sustained through one single policy. If the total loss of a policy occurring during the policy year exceeds the amount of the agreed maximum liability, the actual loss for this policy is limited to this amount. The maximum liability is often defined as a multiple of the earned premiums in a given policy contract.
h.    Reverse Factoring arrangement means any arrangement in whatever name or form, between a borrower and a financer,   wherein a borrower receives or is   supposed to receive finance, either directly or indirectly, for borrower’s purchase of trade receivables, goods or services.
i.      “Seller means a person or business entity who sells the underlying goods or services, for a trade credit transaction, on open and agreed terms.
j.      Trade Credit Insurance business means the business of effecting contracts of insurance in respect of trade credit transactions.
k.    Trade credit insurance means insurance of suppliers against the risk of non-payment of goods or services by their buyers who may be situated in the same country as the supplier (domestic risk) or a buyer situated in another country (export risk) against non-payment as a result of insolvency of the buyer or non-payment after an agreed number of months after due-date (protracted default) or non-payment following an event outside the control of the buyer or the seller
(political risk cover). Political risk cover is available only in case of buyers outside India and in those countries agreed upon at the proposal stage.
l.      Trade Credit transaction means a transaction between two persons and or entities, for supply of goods or services on open and agreed terms.
m. Transaction on open terms means a transaction which is not cash based transaction.
n.    Trade receivable means a receivable in the hands of seller arising out of a trade credit transaction.
o.    Trade Credit insurance policy is a conditional insurance contract between two parties (insurer and seller) that cannot be traded and is always directly related to an underlying trade transaction, which is either the delivery of goods or of services. The correct fulfillment of this trade transaction and satisfaction of the contract terms is essential for credit cover to exist.
p.    Whole turnover trade credit insurance policy means a trade credit insurance policy that covers all trade credit receivables of all buyers, pertaining to a seller.
 
                            II. Applicability of “Guidelines on Product Filing Procedures for General Insurance    Products” to trade credit insurance
 
1.    No insurer shall issue a financial guarantee.
2.    All the existing credit insurance policies shall remain valid as per original contract terms and conditions, till the expiry of the current contract period. The insurers are directed to review the credit worthiness of the buyers and credit assessment and management practices of the policyholders under the existing credit insurance policies currently in force and ensure that necessary corrective action is taken.
3.    All Trade Credit Insurance policies will be subject to “file & use procedures” as stipulated under the “Guidelines on Product Filing Procedures for General Insurance Products” issued by the Authority. No trade credit insurance policy shall be sold unless the product has prior approval of the Authority.
4.    The insurers intending to underwrite trade credit insurance business shall file their products/ revised products, under “Product Filing Procedures” and these guidelines.
5.    Scope of cover under trade credit insurance policy-The credit risk that is insured has to have a direct link with an underlying trade transaction, i.e. the delivery of goods or services. If no such direct link exists, the outstanding amount is not insurable under a trade credit insurance policy.
 
 
                           III. Basic Requirements of a Trade Credit Insurance Policy
An insurer shall offer trade credit insurance policy only if all the following minimum requirements are met:
1.    Policyholder~s loss is non receipt of trade receivable arising out of a trade of goods or services.
2.    Policy-holder is a supplier of goods or services, in consideration for a fair market value.
3.    No trade credit insurance policy shall cover factoring , reverse factoring, billdiscounting or any other similar arrangement
4.    Policy-holder has a customer (i.e. Buyer) who is liable to pay a trade receivable to the Policy-holder in return for the goods and services received by him from the seller, in accordance with a policy document filed with the insurer.
5.    Policy-holder undertakes to pay premium for the entire Policy Period.
6.    Any other requirement that may be specified by the Authority from time to time.
 
                          IV.Conditions on Trade Credit Insurance
A. Insurer
1.    A trade credit insurance policy shall not be issued to banks/ financiers/ lenders.
2.    Assignment of proceeds of a claim under a trade credit policy may be made to a bank/NBFC registered with RBI, in the manner prescribed under Section 38 of the Insurance Act 1938.
3.    A trade credit insurance policy shall not offer cover to any receivable arising from transactions made other than trade credit transaction.
4.    The insurer while offering cover for other services shall undertake valuation of those services considering its methodology and past valuations. These services shall be offered at arms length and valued in accordance with relevant accounting standards.
5.    A trade credit insurance policy can be sold to seller on whole credit turnover basis only, covering all buyers. However, if the seller prefers to take credit insurance cover for a particular segment/ product/or country, the same shall be allowed provided the cover is taken for the whole credit turnover of all buyers of that particular segment/ product or country.
6.    The cover under trade credit insurance policy is available only to pre-agreed buyers and upto the limits agreed. Any change in the limits can be effected only after prior approval of the insurer.
7.    A trade credit insurance policy shall contain well-defined credit limits for each of the
 
buyers and shall also contain an overall limit under the policy.
8.    An insurer shall necessarily assess the credit risk of any buyer who contributes more than 2% of the total turnover of the policyholder.
9.    Every trade credit insurance policy shall carry a subrogation condition and no waiver under any circumstances shall be allowed.
10.An insurer shall have the right to reduce or cancel a credit limit at any time, usually as result of adverse or negative information. Where the policyholder has a protection for the same loss from a third party other than through the insurance policy, the insurer shall have the right to review such protection arrangement and reduce/delete the cover under the insurance policy. This shall allow the insurer to bring down the exposure in a timely manner. The new credit limit shall apply to all deliveries that are made by the policyholder to the buyer after the date of insurer’s decision to reduce or cancel the limits.
11.Every insurer shall appoint a credit management agency with the approval of the Board of Directors for the purposes of assessing credit worthiness of the policyholder and buyers, assuring that the buyers pay on time, keep credit costs low, manage poor debts in such a manner that payment is received without damaging the relationship with that buyer, etc.
12.The insurer before engaging a credit management agency shall ensure that there is no conflict of interest position of the credit management agency with the policyholder.
13.A single specific trade credit policy covering only one shipment cannot be sold to a prospect. The insurer can issue credit insurance policy even if the number of buyers is very small. However, the insurer needs to exercise due diligence and caution if the buyers sought to be covered are very small in number.
14.No trade   credit   insurance   policy is allowed   when   governmental,   para governmental agencies are the buyers.
 
B.Policyholder
 
1.    A Policy-holder cannot take out more than one trade credit insurance Policy either with the same insurer or any other insurer in respect of the same Buyer risk nor can the insurer issue more than one trade credit insurance policy covering same risks emanating for or from the same entity.
2.    A trade credit policy shall not grant an indemnity of more than 85% of the trade receivables from each buyer.
3.    A Policy-holder shall be obliged under the Policy to notify adverse information about the Buyer to the insurer.
4.    A Policy-holder shall not be covered for Buyer~s non-payment of a trade receivable on account of dispute with the Policy-holder or supplier of the goods or services until the dispute gets resolved.
5.    A policyholder shall file with the insurer a statement of credit   policy, credit management and procedures for monitoring of the implementation of the credit policy as part of the proposal to seek insurance cover.
 
                           V.Trade Credit Insurance Underwriting
 
1.    On the basis of information provided in the proposal form, Insurer’s underwriter shall prepare a policy proposal for the prospect based on internal Underwriting Guidelines. The said guidelines shall be approved by the Insurer~s Board of Directors specifying authority levels for decision   on premium rates, discount in premium rates, loss deductibles, maximum liability, premium pricing in case of higher risk or loss perception, no-claim bonus, etc.
2.    The insurer shall ensure that the design and rating of products is always on sound and prudent underwriting basis. The contingencies insured under the product should be clear and provide transparent cover which is of value to the insured.
3.    The insurer shall utilize the services of its appointed actuary for valuation of liabilities, investment performance, solvency margin ratio, design and pricing of insurance products, creation of reserves for outstanding claims and any other matter which the Board of Directors deem fit.
4.    The insurer shall take into consideration the following minimum parameters for underwriting of the Policy: a)Risk Pricing; b)Trade Sector/ Industry of the Buyer; c) Level of Insurable Turnover; d)Debtors Turnover/Velocity in comparison to the Credit Terms/Terms of Payment offered to the Buyer; e) Quality of Buyer Base and spread of Risk; f) Bad Debts History of the Prospect; g) Internal Credit Management of the Prospect
5.    The insurer shall file with the Authority the rating model for the insurance cover to be offered in the market
 
                          VI.Risk Management for trade credit insurance
 
1.    The Insurer shall have internal Risk Management Guidelines to assess trade credit risk on the Buyer, giving credit limits on the Buyer and Buyer credit limit review.
2.    The insurers shall construct suitable risk management models, which articulate its risk management strategies covering the procedures, prudential risk limits, review and mitigation mechanisms, reporting and auditing systems.
3.    The said Risk Management guidelines shall be approved by the Board of Directors of the Insurer and shall clearly specify authority levels for acceptance, rejection, partial rejection and review of credit limits on the Buyer.
4.    The insurer shall ensure that the following minimum parameters are taken into account while framing Risk management Guidelines:
a)    Financial Parameters relating to the Buyer
i)             Buyer turnover for current and three previous years.
ii)            Yearly Profitability trends, gross, operating and net margins of the buyer for   current and three previous years.
iii)           Yearly operating cash flows for current and three previous years
iv)           Asset turnover ratio and current ratio for current and three previous years.
 
b)    Non-Financial Information about the Buyer.
i)             Business activity of the Buyer
ii)            Business and Political environment and the Industry in which the Buyer operates in
iii)           Promoters of the Buyer, their experience, background and track record for the past and current period
iv)           Market information on promoters of the Buyer
v)            Adverse Information about the Buyer reported by, the policy holder, and Banks etc. or reported in the media
c)    The insurer shall review and revise all returns including the system of periodical reviews submitted to the Head Office, to ensure effective supervision and control and to monitor their continued viability. Synopsis of the findings of the inspection I audit I scrutiny and compliance shall be put upto the Audit Committee of the Board at half-yearly intervals.
d)    The insurer shall also provide systems and checks to ensure that delegated powers are exercised prudently and judiciously by the authorised officials and has no adverse fallout.
e)    Where fewer than 10 buyers are to be covered the insurer shall use appropriate policy conditions and underwriting techniques, to place extremely prudent compliance obligations on the insured.
 
                        VII.Claims Handling
 
1.    The insurer shall have a comprehensive Claims Manual which gives the manner in which the claims shall be processed, documentation, delegation of authority, policyholders servicing, grievance redressal etc.
2.    The insurer shall also have a strong and efficient recovery mechanism in place to follow-up on defaults.
3.    In respect of claims in excess of retention limits, the direct insurer shall intimate the reinsurer immediately on receiving intimation of the loss.
 
                       VIII.Reinsurance Arrangements
 
1.    The insurers shall file with the Board of Directors and the Authority, details of reinsurance arrangements proposed to take care of the exposures that arise on account of the underwriting of risks taken. This should cover details of structure of reinsurance programme covering both proportional and non-proportional arrangements, net retentions, obligatory cessions, if any, security of reinsurers, placement           of reinsurance cessions,   reinsurance   recoveries,   outstanding   loss provisions, etc.
2.    The Reinsurance agreement with a Reinsurer shall be appropriately drafted in order to avoid a situation wherein a Reinsurer may deny its liability to pay for a trade credit insurance claim by using any clause of the Reinsurance Agreement instead of clauses under the Trade Credit Insurance Policy issued to a Policy-holder.
3.    The aggregate net retentions of the insurer for trade credit insurance shall not exceed 5% of his net-worth.
 
                          IX.Experience and Training Requirements for employees dealing with   trade credit insurance
Every insurer wanting to write trade credit insurance shall ensure that decisions of acceptance of trade credit insurance business are made by persons with necessary knowledge, training and experience in the areas of underwriting, risks management, claims, reinsurance, etc. Brief details relating to these aspects shall be filed along with the Product Filing documents to IRDAI.
                           X.Reporting requirements to IRDAI
 
1.    The Insurer should report following information with IRDAI:
 
                                            a)        Policy-holder wise earned and gross written premium
                                            b)        Loss ratio for the trade credit insurance product
                                            c)        Policy-holder wise -Buyer wise claims reserves
                                            d)        Policy-holder wise - Buyer wise claims paid
                                            e)        Policy-holder wise-Buyer wise claims recovery
 
2.    Periodic reporting
a.    The Insurer should report the above mentioned information as follows:
                                                     i)        Every six months-Within 30 days of every six months ending on 30th September and 31~~March
                                                    ii)        Every year-within 30 days of the end of 12 month period on 31March for each financial year
                                                   iii)        Every loss known to the insurer, which is in excess of 1% of the net worth of the insurer, as and when intimation is received by the insurer.
b.    The Insurer should provide for additional reports I clarifications demanded by IRDAI within 15 days of the receipt of requisition from IRDAI.
 
                          XI.Further powers of the Authority
 
1.    The Authority shall have the right to call, inspect or investigate any document, record or communication of the insurer and/or Policyholder, if it is of the opinion that the continued writing of trade credit insurance business is detriment to the interest of the insurer.
2.    The Authority shall declare any trade credit insurance policy granted in violation of these guidelines and other IRDAI Regulations as void. The insurer shall notify this clause in all policies.
3.    The Authority may suspend trade credit insurance business of any insurer, if found violating the instructions of the Authority from time to time, after giving sufficient opportunity to the insurer to be heard.
4.    In order to remove any difficulties in respect of the application or interpretation of any of the provisions of these guidelines, the Chairperson of the Authority may issue appropriate clarifications from time to time.
 
 
Suresh Mathur
Sr.JD (Non-Life)

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