Bank Guarantees

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Bank guarantees

On the following pages we shall go into more detail presenting the various parties in a guarantee
transaction and the relationships between them, a number of common terms used and some of the
legal aspects.
Bank guarantees a short introduction

Bank guarantee overview

Obligations in an accessory guarantee

Obligations in a non-accessory guarantee

Direct guarantee v. indirect guarantee

Law and Jurisdiction

Relation between the commercial transaction and bank guarantees

Types of guarantees

What should a bank guarantee contain?

Glossary of terms

10

Bank guarantees a short introduction

The bank guarantee is an instrument which business partners can use to strengthen and/or secure an
obligation in their contract. The Principal - the party who requests that the guarantee is issued - applies
to his bank for a bank guarantee to be issued in favour of the Beneciary the party who will receive
the guarantee.
After examining and approving the Principals application, the bank draws up a contract with the
Principal - the Counter-Indemnity. The Counter-Indemnity states, among other things, the rights and
obligations of the Principal and the bank in relation to possible payment for claims under the guarantee. Once all of this is in place, the bank then issues the guarantee.
By issuing the guarantee the bank offers a security to the Beneciary that is separate from the Principals ability or will to full his part of the contract. For example, a guarantee can be issued to secure
the repayment of an advance payment if delivery does not take place.
Bank guarantees can also be used to secure performance under a contract. Such a guarantee does
not however mean that the bank completes the project in the event of non-performance. Instead the
banks undertaking is a payment obligation. Funds are then available to the Beneciary to enable him
to, for example, complete the project with another party.
In general banks issue two different kinds of guarantees: Accessory and Non-Accessory guarantees.

Bank guarantee overview

GUARANTEE

ACCESSORY

NON-ACCESSORY

DEMAND
GUARANTEE

STANDBY
LETTER OF CREDIT

Guarantees can be divided into two kinds those that are linked to the underlying contract an accessory relationship, and those that are independent or an non-accessory relationship. The former are
often referred to as Borgen in Sweden. The latter category can be broken down further into Demand
Guarantees and Standby Letter of Credit.

Obligations in an accessory guarantee

An Accessory Guarantee is dependent on the underlying contract, and the guarantor is entitled to
invoke the defences which the Principal may have against the Beneciary. In case of a dispute, the
latter must prove his rights emanating from the underlying transaction. The bank has the same
rights to object to a claim as the Principal, and the bank is only obliged to pay upon presentation of
either a court decision or an arbitrational settlement justifying the claim, or the Principals written
approval of the claim.

Obligations in a non-accessory guarantee

With an Non-Accessory guarantee the main principle is pay rst argue later. From the Beneciarys point of view, this type of guarantee is often a better form of security. The Beneciary has
the best security if the demand guarantee is strictly unconditional (a simple demand) and contains
no additional requirements such as documentation that must be presented to support the claim.

Direct guarantee v. indirect guarantee

A guarantee can be issued by the Principals bank either directly to the Beneciary (a 3-part guarantee or direct guarantee) or through a bank in the Beneciarys country, (a local bank guarantee,
a 4-part guarantee or an indirect guarantee). In the latter case, the Principals bank (the Instructing
Bank) instructs a local bank (the Issuing Bank) to issue the guarantee in favour of the Beneciary.
As security, the Instructing Bank issues a counter-guarantee in favour of a local bank, entitling it to
the right to submit a claim to the Instructing Bank in the event of payment of a claim.

PRINCIPAL/APPLICANT
SEB CUSTOMER

UNDERLYING
CONTRACT

APPLICATION

LETTER OF
INDEMNITY

BENEFICIARY

3
GUARANTEE

SEB
ISSUING BANK

The gure above shows the issuance of a direct guarantee.

With a direct guarantee, the Principals bank issues the guarantee directly to the Beneciary making
this type of guarantee less expensive for the Principal as there are no foreign bank costs. Furthermore, the Issuing Bank has better control in the event of a claim under the guarantee, giving the
Principal a certain amount of security. The Principal also has better control when the guarantee is
eventually handed over to the Beneciary.
Certain contracts may stipulate a guarantee to be issued by the Local Bank. This is even required
by law in some countries and can be common market practice.
Beneciaries may view the Local Bank guarantee as more secure, as they only need to deal with
their own bank. Contact SEB for more information about what is applicable in your situation.

PRINCIPAL/APPLICANT
SEB CUSTOMER

UNDERLYING
CONTRACT

BENEFICIARY

APPLICATION

LETTER OF
INDEMNITY

LOCAL
GUARANTEE

SEB
ISSUING BANK

LOCAL BANK
GUARANTOR
ISSUING BANK

SEB'S
COUNTER GUARANTEE

The gure above shows the issuance of a local guarantee.

Law and Jurisdiction

If a specic law is not mentioned in the guarantee then there are certain rules which may be used to
determine which law should apply. Generally the law with the closest connection to the guarantee is
applicable. For Accessory Guarantees that is normally the law applicable to the Issuing Bank. In the
case of Non-Accessory Guarantees a court may be of the opinion that the underlying contract is of
greater importance and rule that the laws applicable to that contract shall also apply to the guarantee.
Consequently it is important to consider the choice of law and jurisdiction on a case by case basis.

PRINCIPAL/APPLICANT
SEB CUSTOMER

BENEFICIARY

UNDERLYING
CONTRACT

2
LETTER OF INDEMNITY
SWEDISH LAW

LOCAL GUARANTEE
LOCAL LAW

SEB
INSTRUCTING PARTY

LOCAL BANK
GUARANTOR
ISSUING BANK

3
COUNTER GUARANTEE
SWEDISH LAW

Four undertaking of contracts that can be subject to different laws.

The above diagram shows how a local guarantee is issued. In this scenario there are four separate
and independent agreements i.e.
the underlying contract
the Counter-Indemnity
the Counter-Guarantee
the guarantee

In this situation if no law has been specied, problems can arise in the event of the Principal contesting payment of a claim under the guarantee. In the event of an unjustied claim - unfair calling - the
bank has no case against the Beneciary, but must instead pursue discussions with its direct contractual partner the local bank. The local bank may have acted in complete compliance with the laws of
its country, while Swedish legislation supports the Principals point of view, thus creating a conict
between the various parties involved.

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has compiled several sets of rules for dealing with
guarantees. By referring to the ICC rules in a guarantee you dene a number of the different parties
rights and obligations without having to specify them in the guarantee text, thereby reducing the risk
of misunderstanding and creating a simplier text.
SEB recommends the use of the ICC rules and, in particular when applicable, the rules for
demand guarantees URDG458 ICC Publication 458 and ISP98 ICC Publication 590.

Relation between the commercial transaction

and bank guarantees
COMMERCIAL EVENT

The gure below shows the relationship between a commercial transaction and the issuing of different
guarantees.
OFFER/INVITATION

OFFER

CONTRACT

DELIVERIES

INSTALLATION

TAKE-OVER

GUARANTEE
PERIOD

ADVANCE

TIME
TYPE OF
GUARANTEE

PERFORMANCE/
CONTRACT

TENDER

ADVANCE PAYMENT

RETENTION

WARRANTY

VALIDITY PERIOD & AMOUNT

The gure above shows the relationship between a commercial transaction and the issuing of different guarantees.

All guarantee types have a vertical arrow. The lower section of this gure shows the period for which
the bank guarantees are usually valid. Note that the start dates for certain guarantees may differ
(see the summary on page 9). It also gives an indication of the general size of the guarantee amounts,
and demonstrates that this can, in some cases, be gradually reduced over time.

Types of guarantees
Tender/Bid Guarantee
Supports the Principal/Applicants obligation to
execute a contract if the Principal/Applicant is
awarded a bid.

Bill of Lading-/Steamship Guarantee

Supports the shipping company for any nancial
damages caused by the goods being delivered
without the bill of lading. The guarantee is valid
until the bill of lading is presented, or until the
shipping company releases the bank from its
liability.

Advance Payment Guarantee

Supports an obligation to account for an advance payment made by the Beneciary to the
Principal/Applicant. SEB recommends that an
Advance Payment Guarantee contain a clause
that the guarantee is inoperative until the Advance Payment has been received by the Principal/Applicant, as well as a clause allowing for
reductions of the guarantee amount.

Maintenance Guarantee
Supports remedies and any defects which
become apparent after delivery of the goods or
after completion of a plant.

Performance Guarantee
Supports an obligation to pay for losses which
may arise as a consequence of the Principal/Applicant failing to fulll his obligations under the
contract.
Retention Guarantee
Supports an obligation to account for retention
money paid by the Beneciary to the Principal/
Applicant. SEB advises that the Retention Guarantee explicitly stipulates that is does not come
into effect until the retention money has been
received by the Principal/Applicant.
Warranty Guarantee
Supports the Beneciarys costs should the
Principal/Applicant fail to meet his warranty
obligations as per the contract terms.
Payment Guarantee
Supports the payment obligation of the Beneciary for goods/services delivered by the Principal/Applicant.
Loan Guarantee
Supports the repayment of a credit or credit
facility including amortisation and interest.
The guarantee applies from the date the loan is
made until it has been repaid.

What should a bank guarantee contain?

Ideally the underlying contract should contain clauses regarding how the guarantee(s) should be issued.
All instructions for the issue of guarantees should be clear, precise and avoid excessive detail. Listed
below are a number of the different points which can be contained in the various guarantee types.
Note: most of these points should be mandatory, others will depend on the type of guarantee involved.
A definition of the parties involved
Direct Guarantee (3-part) Principal, Issuing
bank and Beneciary, Indirect Guarantee
(4-part) Principal, Instructing Party, Issuing
bank and Beneciary.

The amount is reduced by a specied or determinable amount or amounts on a specied date

or dates or upon presentation to the Guarantor
of the document(s) specied for this purpose in
the guarantee.

A reference to
The underlying transaction requiring the issue
of the guarantee.

Effective clause
A guarantee enters into effect on the date of
issuance unless the terms of the guarantee
expressly provide that such entry into effect is to
be at a later date or is to be subject to conditions
specied in the Guarantee and determinable by
the Guarantor. Advance Payment Guarantees
usually contains such a condition and do not
allow for the guarantee to come into effect until
the advance payment has been received by the
Principal/Applicant.

The guarantee amount

The maximum amount payable and the currency in which it is payable.
The period of validity
Guarantees should expire on a specic date (expiry date) or on presentation to the Guarantor
of the document(s) specied for the purpose of
expiry (expiry event). If both an expiry date
and an expiry event are specied in a guarantee,
the guarantee shall expire on whichever of the
two occurs rst, whether or not the guarantee
and any amendment(s) thereto are returned.

Whether or not the guarantee is transferable

Reference to applicable rules
ICC Uniform Rules for Demand Guarantees
(URDG458)
ICC International Standard Practices
(ISP98)

Documentation
Any demand for payment under the guarantee
should be in writing and in addition to other
documents which may be specied in the guarantee, for example, a certicate by an architect
or engineer, a judgment or an arbitrational
award, be supported by a written statement
(whether in the demand itself or in a separate
document or documents accompanying the demand and referred to in it) stating that the Principal/Applicant is in breach of his obligation(s)
under the underlying contract(s) or, in the case
of a tender guarantee, the tender conditions and
the respect in which the Principal/Applicant is
in breach.

Additional points to consider before signing

a contract
Who pays the Issuing Banks charges/
commission/fees?
How should the guarantee be drafted?
Which law and jurisdiction should apply?

A reduction clause
A guarantee may contain express provision for
reduction of the guarantee amount.

Glossary of terms
Accessory Guarantee

Non-Accessory Guarantee

Is dependent on the underlying contract and the Guarantor is entitled to invoke the defences which the Principal/
Applicant might have against the Beneciary.

A guarantee independent of the underlying contract.

Payment Guarantee
See description in Types of guarantees.

Advance Payment Guarantee

Performance Guarantee

See description in Types of guarantees.

See description in Types of guarantees.

Applicant (Principal)

Principal (Applicant)

The party on whose behalf the guarantee is issued.

The party on whose behalf the guarantee is issued.

Aval

Reduction clause

The holder of an accepted bill of exchange is guaranteed

payment on the maturity date.

A guarantee may contain express provisions concerning reduction by a specied or determinable amount, or
amounts on a specied date or dates.

Beneciary
The party in whose favour the guarantee is issued.

Retention Guarantee

Bill of Lading Guarantee (Steamship guarantee)

See description in Types of guarantees.

See description in Types of guarantees.

Standby Letter of Credit

Borgen

A non-accessory guarantee which can be used for the

same purposes as a demand guarantee. Payment under the
guarantee must be made immediately without recourse.

A guarantee that is linked to the underlying contract.

Counter-Guarantee
The Instructing partys undertaking towards the issuing
or local bank.

Steamship Guarantee (Bill of Lading guarantee)

Counter-Indemnity

Tender Guarantee/Bid Guarantee

The Principals undertaking towards its bank.

See description in Types of guarantees.

Demand Guarantee

Unconditional

Payment under the guarantee must be made immediately

without recourse.

The Guarantee contains no requirement regarding which

document(s) shall support the claim.

Effective date

Validity

The date on which the guarantee is issued unless its terms

expressly provide that entry into effect is to be at a later
date.

The period during which the guarantee is valid.

See description in Types of guarantees.

Warranty Guarantee
See description in Types of guarantees.

Evergreen Clause
Gives a guarantee extendable validity (can be limited by
conditions in the guarantee).

Expiry Date
Specic date on which the guarantee ceases to be valid.

Expiry Event
Specic event upon which the guarantee ceases to be valid.

Loan Guarantee
See description in Types of guarantees.

Maintenance Guarantee
See description in Types of guarantees.

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An eye for opportunities

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