Buy-Back Agreement in International Business


When two or more people come together to form a partnership to carry out a project, it is called a joint venture. In this scenario, both parties are equally invested in the project in terms of money, time and effort to build on the original concept. While joint ventures are usually small projects, large companies use this method to diversify. A joint venture can ensure the success of small projects for those just starting out in the business world or for established companies. Since the cost of launching new projects is usually high, a joint venture allows both parties to share the burden of the project as well as the resulting benefits. In order to succeed in today`s global market and win sales against foreign competitors, exporters must offer their customers attractive selling conditions supported by the appropriate payment methods. Since the ultimate goal of any export sale is to be paid in full and on time, an appropriate payment method must be carefully selected to minimize the risk of payment while meeting the needs of the buyer. As shown in Figure 1, there are five main payment methods for international transactions. During or before contract negotiations, you need to determine which method in the illustration is mutually desirable for you and your client. A joint venture is a business agreement in which the parties agree to develop a new entity and new assets by providing equity. They exercise control over the business and, therefore, share revenues, expenses and assets. Documented repurchase agreements or sales/redemptions that are set out in a written contract are legally stronger and more flexible than those that are not documented.

Due to a lack of documentation, the sale and redemption are considered two separate contracts. Franchising allows companies to have a profitable and localized strategy to expand into international markets and offers local entrepreneurs the opportunity to run an established business. Situations other than real estate or insurance where buy-back provisions are in place usually involve commercial transactions. An example would be a franchisor selling a franchise to a franchisee. A study by researchers at Duke University and Princeton University, published in the American Journal of Political Science, entitled “The Politics of Foreign Direct Investment into Developing Countries: Increasing FDI through International Trade Agreements,” examines foreign direct investment trends from 1970 to 2000 in 122 developing countries to assess the best conditions for attracting investment. The study found that the most important factor contributing to the increase in FDI inflows has been the reform of domestic policies in terms of trade openness and participation in international trade agreements and institutions. The researchers conclude that while “democracy can be conducive to international cooperation,” the strongest indicator of a higher inflow of foreign direct investment into developing countries has been the number of trade agreements and institutions in which they have been involved. It is also important to keep an eye on the risk-return ratio. Although the risk of franchising is much lower in terms of capital investment, the operating income is also much lower (depending on the existing franchise agreement).

Although this is a faster and cheaper way to enter, it ultimately results in a profit sharing between the franchisor and the franchisee. A current account transaction is a sale where goods are shipped and delivered before payment is due, which usually occurs in 30, 60 or 90 days for international sales. Obviously, this is one of the most advantageous options for the importer in terms of cash flow and cost, but it is therefore one of the options with the highest risk for an exporter. Due to intense competition in export markets, foreign buyers often push exporters to open account conditions, as loans from the seller to the buyer abroad are more common. As a result, exporters who are reluctant to lend may lose a sale to their competitors. Exporters can offer competitive conditions for open accounts while significantly reducing the risk of default by using one or more of the appropriate trade finance techniques discussed later in this guide. If the exporter offers open account conditions, he can apply for additional protection with export credit insurance. A form of counter-purchase is an international business transaction in which an exporter agrees to purchase a certain number of goods from a country in exchange for the exporter`s purchase of the exporter`s product by the country. The goods sold by each party are generally not related, but may have an equivalent value. In contract manufacturing, a lender enters into an agreement with the contracted manufacturer to produce and ship the lender`s goods. Global offshoring activity: Global offshoring activity is expected to reach $500 billion by 2020.

Don`t lose potential business to competitors by neglecting the different payment options that might be attractive to your international buyer. Explore multiple payment methods and find the one that best suits your needs. Outsourcing is the outsourcing of a business process that an organization may have previously conducted internally or that has a new need to an independent organization from which the process is purchased as a service. Although the practice of buying a business function — rather than providing it in-house — is a common feature of any modern economy, the term outsourcing became popular in America at the turn of the 21st century. An outsourcing agreement may also involve the transfer of the employees and assets involved to the outsourcing business partner. The definition of outsourcing includes both foreign and domestic contracts, which can include offshoring, described as “a company that removes a function from its activities and relocates it to another country.” Imported goods or services are supplied to domestic consumers by foreign manufacturers. An import into the destination country is an export to the country of shipment. Imports, together with exports, form the basis of international trade. .