Financing Solutions
IDB Finance
What are direct LC swaps with the IDB?
The FFF offers borrowers financing solutions to better manage currency exposures with the IDB through direct hedges with the Bank. Direct LC swaps with the IDB refer to the option borrowers have to hedge currency exposures of IDB debt to LC or another currency of the region, subject to market availability.
Is an ISDA Master Agreement required to execute direct LC swaps with the IDB?
Yes. Borrowers need to enter into a Master Derivatives Agreement (MDA) with the IDB, pursuant to which they can request currency swaps into LC from the IDB.
Are direct LC swaps executed against individual loan exposures?
Not necessarily. Borrowers can choose to execute direct LC swaps with the IDB against a particular loan or at a loan portfolio level. Most importantly, there is no netting of payments between loans and swaps; that is, cash flows, payment amounts and due dates of LC swaps are independent of loans, each being contracted and settled separately. The only connection between LC swaps and loans (aside from cross-default provision discussed below) is that the sum of nominal amounts of the USD leg of all LC swaps of a borrower cannot exceed outstanding loan amounts in that currency.
Are cross-default provisions between loans and LC swaps required by the IDB?
Yes, cross default provisions apply between loans and swaps with the IDB. This means that loan contracts must be amended to incorporate this provision before an ISDA agreement could be executed with the IDB.
Is posting of collateral required?
No, the IDB does not request the posting of collateral or CSA. However, this could change should new financial regulation were to result in changes that require a different treatment by the IDB of this provision.
Can a LC swap with the IDB be terminated early?
Borrowers can terminate LC swaps with the IDB at any time subject to the IDB’s ability to unwind its hedging transaction with the market. Costs or gains resulting from the redeployment of funds by the IDB are passed on to borrower.
What could trigger termination events by the IDB?
Termination events (full or partial) on a LC swap include: (i) default or delay in payments by the borrower, or loan acceleration, (ii) illegality; and, (iii) if, as a result of a prepayment, the notional amount of the outstanding debt in US dollars is less than the aggregated notional amount of swaps in that same currency (measured by the US dollar leg).