There are three main types of prepayment finance:

• Prepayments by individuals: Individuals can also make prepayments and the great thing about this is that the accounting process is considerably simpler. For instance, a customer might delay the payment of their credit card bill by 30 days. Let’s say a customer spends $2000 on his credit card and clears the bill that day. Even though, he made the payment shortly after using his credit card, it is still considered a prepayment because the bill isn’t really due for another 30 days.
• Prepayment by Corporations: Corporations pay for the costs of assets to be used in the future, in advance. This prepayment is labelled as a normal expenditure once the company starts using the purchased asset.
• Prepayment by Taxpayers: Taxpayers unknowingly make prepayments of taxes as some of their pay-check is stuck. Self-employed individuals, for example, are required to make the advance payment of taxes by making quarterly approximated tax payments. However, they receive a tax refund if they pay more than their actual tax liability.

• Enables seller of goods to successfully sign long term supply deals with producers in return for the provision of finance, funded by the buyer of product or commodities. This provides producers the financing they need to manufacture goods.
• Advance payment may also allow producers to search for further trade financing to expand its lending base and to diminish risks associated with funding.
• There is also the incentive of reduced interest payment on the left-over primary amount. In other words, if you are making a prepayment of any loans, your interest pay-out becomes smaller.
• Corporations can use the advance payments to pay their workforce and expenses.
• By refinancing the debt, individuals can pay past debt in advance.

• Prepayment tariff costs are higher than usual tariff costs because of the costs associated with serving customers through this method.
• Risks associated with deals can’t be completely eliminated and a trader is rarely permitted to transfer them to banks.
• Especially in commodities finance, there are more potential issues and risks around pre-paying a supplier and loans have to be closely monitored.

Are there any disclosure requirements for the prepayment agreements?

• Yes, a trading company discloses prepayment transactions in its yearly financial statement.

Does prepayment involve non-banking companies taking economic risks that they are not prepared to deal with? If yes, then how do such companies deal with these risks?

• Prepayment does not really involve trading companies taking risks that they can’t handle as they should have a sound knowledge of producing companies and good relationships with refiners. It also allows them to secure the off-take/supply of product. Therefore, they understand the credit, difficulties and the challenges associated with striking a deal. Also, they can transfer a major percentage of their financial risks to the banks to which the prepayment loans are syndicated. Hence, by splitting their risks with banks, such companies are able to deal with potential economic risks.