Factoring as Financing Alternative: Reasons for Non Patronage in Nigeria

Alayemi S. A.^*, Oyeleye O. A., Adeoye E. T.

Faculty of Business and Social Sciences, Department of Accounting, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examined factoring as alternative source of finance and the reasons why it is not patronized in Nigeria. The objective of this paper was to explore factoring as a source of finance an alternative source of finance instead of bank loan with its attendant high interest rate. Factoring makes it possible for business to readily convert a substantial portion of its account receivable into cash. Factoring; the world all over has become a growing source of external finance for corporations and small and medium size enterprise. Depending on the participant, factoring may be domestic or international. There are two principal methods of factoring. Factoring can be with recourse where the client is not protected against the risk of bad debt. Hence, in the case of uncollectable debt, the client bears the loss. The other one is factoring without recourse. Under this scenario, the uncollectible debt is bore by the factor. However, factor should not be seen as debt collector. In the case of Nigeria, this method of finance is not patronized because of the state of the economic situation, incompetence of financial system in allocating financial resources and weak legal system which are features of emerging market. The determinants of the level of factoring activity in an economy depends on first, the availability of financial information about enterprises; and second, the overall level of economic activity. The reasons why factoring as an alternative source of finance is not embraced is simply because Nigeria is an emerging market where our financial system is not efficient coupled with the weak legal system. This is coupled with our political system that do not create an enabling atmosphere for smooth operation of financial institutions and Nigeria legal system.

Keywords

Factoring, Account Receivables, Factoring with Recourse, Factoring Without Recourse, Bad Debt, Emerging Market

Received: June 11, 2015
Accepted: July 9, 2015
Published online: July 31, 2015

@ 2015 The Authors. Published by American Institute of Science. This Open Access article is under the CC BY-NC license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

1. Introduction

Factoring is a financial transaction whereby a business sells its accounts receivable to a third party (called a factor) at a discount. Factoring makes it possible for a business to convert a readily substantial portion of its accounts receivable into cash. This therefore makes factoring to be a method of credit management with specialized activity and involves a lot of time effort of a company. For companies, collection of receivables is a bit problematic. It is possible for a company to assign its credit management and collection to specialist organisations called factoring organisations. Factoring is a business involving a continuing legal relationship between a financial institution(the factor) and business concern (the client) selling goods or providing services to trade customers (the customers) whereby the factor purchases the client’s accounts receivable and in relation thereto, controls credit, extended to customers and administers the sales ledger (Biscoe, 1975).

Financing is very important in business set up and in expansion of operations, development of new products and investment in new staff or production facilities. There are different sources through which businesses can fish for fund. However, it is possible to make a distinction between internal and external financing sources. At the start up, businesses can put reliance on internal sources as well as during their growth and developmental stage. However, there is a limit to which businesses can rely on internal sources during the developmental stage of the business lifecycle. The objective of this paper is to show factoring as an alternative source of finance devoid of administrative bottle neck in terms of processing and why it is not embraced or patronized in Nigeria as result of the weak political, legal and financial systems which are characteristics of emerging market.

2. External Sources of Financing

The external financing sources can take any of the following forms:

Informal financing sources for instance money raised through friends, family. This mode of external financing is for sole proprietorship. Formal sources of external financing that include: traditional debt finance in the form of loans from bank and other financial institutions, lease or hire purchase. Other external sources include risk capital (venture capital, equity financing) which is good for high-growth firm, factoring (the main trust of this paper) and trade credit.

Around the world with the exception of Africa and Nigeria in particular, factoring is a growing source of external finance for corporations and small and medium size enterprise. The development of factoring is dated as far back as sixties of last century in the United State of America where there was extension of purchase of goods on debt (Janekova, 2012).

According to Factor Chains International (FCI), a global factoring trade group, annual global factoring turnover increased from around $384 billion, in 1996, to over $1,276 billion, in 2005. In the work of Bakker, Klapper and Udell, 2004 factoring has emerged as the most important source of working capital for Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in many economies. As a result of crisis in the financial sector, this has culminated into the banks being skeptical in extending credit facility in form of traditional financing method. Hence, the attention of researchers has been directed to the mechanics of factoring and the reasons that explain cross country differences in annual factoring turnover (Lotz, 1992; Mian and Smith, 1992; Bakker, Klapper and Udell, 2004; Berger and Udell, 2004; Klapper, 2000, 2006). This paper is set to discuss why factoring as a financing option is not embraced in merging market and Nigeria in particular.

3. Literature Review

This section discussed the conceptual framework to throw more light on the concept of factoring and thereafter existing literatures were appraised to see the direction of current research and the gap in the existing literatures.

3.1. Concept of Factoring

Factoring is a form of commercial finance involving a business selling its accounts receivable (inform of invoices) at a discount. As a complex form of finance, factoring involves participation of three parties. The three parties that are directly involved in factoring are: the one who sells the receivable, the debtor (the account debtor, or customer of the seller), and the factor.

3.2. Operation of Factoring

The following operation is involved in the operation of factoring:

• The existence of receivables which is recoverable by the supplier from his customer;

• The transfer or sale of these receivables to a bank or a specialized financial institution;

• Services provided by the factor in exchange of a fee, which may include the following services: invoices financing; transfer of receivables management; debts recoverable from debtors and hedging against the risk of accounts not being settled.

3.3. Functions of a Factor

• Payment to the client for their invoices as issued by the client;

• Provision of services (collection of payment from the customers, provision of advice to client against bad debts).

The implication is that the benefits of factoring are not limited to immediate cash payment. If the factor provides credit management services too, then there is the prospect of an improvement in the speed at which debts are collected , giving a further positive impact on cash flow, and reduces interest charges.

3.4. Types of Factoring

There are different types of factoring products which is classified from various criteria:

(a)Depending on the method of collection as well as debt management, factoring can be grouped into:

• Partial factoring. Under this arrangement, invoices are selected, that is not all the invoices are accepted for buying; the obligation to cash the invoices belongs to the customer because the factors do not take their administration;

• Total factoring: All the invoices are taken by the customer and administered by the factor. The factor will cash the invoices from the debtor, finance the operation and cover the credit risk.

(b) Depending on the moment of payment of the debt by the factor. They are the following:

• Old-line factoring (classical factoring): Here the factor pay the invoices in the moment he takes them.

• Materiality financing: The debts of customer are paid in the moment of their maturity

• Mixed factoring: The factor pay a part of the invoices value as advance (not less than 85% from their value), the difference is paid at a later date.

(c) Depending on the participants to the factoring operation, this may take the following forms:

• Domestic financing: This is done on the same country and there is a single factor.

• International factoring: this is the existence of international trade contract. In the operation there will be two factors (the import and the export one). The export factor buys the exporter debts.

(d) Principal methods of factoring:

There are two principal methods of factoring vis-à-vis recourse factoring and non-recourse factoring. Under the former method, the client is not protected against the risk of bad debt. With non-recourse factoring, the factor assumes the entire credit risk.

3.5. Selected Empirical Studies

Mian and Smith, 1992 surveyed firms to study the choice firms make between different account receivable management policies such as factoring, accounts receivable secured debt, captive finance subsidiaries and general corporate credit. The study revealed that size, concentration and credit standing of the firm’s traded debt and commercial paper are important in explaining the firm’s choices between the alternative policies. The larger more credit worthy firms establishes captives, while the smaller, riskier firms issue accounts receivable secured debt. Each of the specific policies has also been studied.

Sopranzetti, 1998 carried models factoring of accounts receivable with respect to the recourse conditions and finds that high bankruptcy firms may not be able to factor their receivables even with full recourse. In the research carried by Klapper, 2005, the study showed evidence suggesting that lines of credit secured by accounts receivable are associated with business borrowers who exhibit a high risk of default.

In the same vein, Sufi 2009, studies the role of bank lines of credit in corporate finance and finds that these revolving facilities are used as a liquidity substitute only for firms that maintain high cash flows.

Furthermore, Van Horne, 2004 researched into the use of trade credit in 39countries and discovered that trade credit is used as a competitive tool, particularly for small and young firms. Fisman and Raturi, 2003 found that competition encourages trade credit provision in five African countries. In addition, McMillan and Woodruff, 1999 studied the use of trade credit in Vietnam and found out that small firms are more likely to both grant and receive trade credit than large firms. It is clearly evident that small firms in emerging markets generally provide trade credit and hold illiquid accounts receivable on their balance sheets.

The above studies highlight the many differences between the policies as well as the different characteristics of firms using each. These firms are characterized by a wide range of sizes, balance sheet strength and operating results. This study explores whether the firm’s information asymmetry characteristic is a common factor that may explain a firm’s choice to use account receivable as a financing tool.

Evidence in previous literature finds that trade credit is used more in countries with greater barriers to SME financing. For example, a study by Demirguc-Kunt and Maksimovic (2001) in their work found out that in 39 countries around the world, trade credit use is higher relative to bank credit in countries with weak legal environments, which make bank contracts more difficult to write. Fisman and Love (2003) highlighted the impact of inter- firm financing by showing that industries with higher dependence on trade credit financing exhibit higher rates of growth in countries with relatively weak financial institutions. Van Horen (2004) studied the use of trade credit in 39 countries and finds that trade credit is used as a competitive tool, particularly for small and young firms.

Fisman and Raturi (2004) found that competition encourages trade credit provision in five African countries. McMillan and Woodruff (1999) study the use of trade credit in Vietnam and find that small firms are more likely to both grant and receive trade credit than large firms. This evidence suggests that small firms in emerging markets generally provide trade credit and hold illiquid accounts receivable on their balance sheets. In addition, firms in developed countries often refuse to pay on receipt to firms in emerging markets since they want time to confirm the quality of the goods and know that it could be very difficult to receive a refund from firms in countries with slow judicial systems.

The literature points to two major determinants of the level of factoring activity in an economy: first, the availability of financial information about enterprises; and second, the overall level of economic activity.

Bushman and Smith (2003) presented a framework for understanding the links between the availability of reliable financial information and enterprise level efficiency and firms’ choice of financing mechanism. Reliable and adequate information helps to identify promising investment opportunities with less error, lowers the principal-agent problem between shareholders and managers, and reduces the information asymmetry between investors and firms. A lack of adequate financial information, in general, and informational asymmetry between SMEs and financial institutions, in particular, is the most commonly cited reason for the existence and development of factoring. According to Mian and Smith (1992) and Smith and Shnucker (1994), firms factor accounts receivable to better manage their exposure to credit risk. Specifically, a factor that specializes in an industry with many buyers and sellers may be able to pool information among sellers to help reduce credit risk.

4. Determinants of Factoring

In the current literature, factoring is examined in the context of the operation of the financial system in an economy. Schumpeter (1911), in his research pointed out that a well-functioning financial system is vitally important for technological advancement and economic growth. The quality and competence of an economy’s financial system in the allocation of financial resources depends on many factors including the following: (a) robustness of its financial institutions and financial markets (b) the strength and integrity of its legal system (c) and the quantitative and reliability of information with which both suppliers and demanders of capital are able to assess risk. In a political system where there are weak laws and/or poor enforcement brings into being an agency problem that tends to water down the efficiency of a financial system. In economies with a weak financial system, firms face significant hurdles in obtaining capital from financial institutions and financial markets, sources traditionally used in economies with more complete financial systems. Factoring is particularly useful as a source of short-term working capital in such economies because receivables are sold, rather than collateralized, and factored receivables are not part of the estate of a bankrupt firm. In addition, underwriting in factoring is based on the risk of the accounts receivables themselves rather than on the risk of the borrower.

As a result of weak laws, poor enforcement, and the associated informational opacity in Nigeria has put companies at a disadvantage as a borrower coupled with poor corporate governance. Daniel, Mushfiq, Traris and Shelton, (2010) in Litan, Pomerleano, and Sundararajan, (2002) opined that when it comes to the working of the financial system, corporate governance problems have added complexities, because they accentuate incentive conflicts and agency problems which are further compounded by government ownership and regulation of the financial institutions. The extent to which poor governance has led to the ascendancy of factoring as the preferred short term financing mechanism is an important empirical question, which is yet to be answered.

5. Do Nigerian Business Organisations Make Use of Factoring as Mean of Finance

From available literature as far as factoring as alternative mean of financing is concerned, the authors have not come across ‘factor’ company in Nigeria. This means this method of finance is totally neglected and not embraced in Nigeria at all. This is evident in Table 1 below where in the whole of Africa continent, there are only five countries namely: Egypt, Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia. The question that readily comes to mind is why is this form of finance not patronised in Nigeria? The reason may not be unconnected with the simple fact that Nigeria is an emerging market where our financial system is not efficient coupled with the weak legal system. The last straw that breaks the carmel’s back is our political system that do not create an enabling atmosphere for smooth operation of financial institutions and Nigeria legal system.

Table 1. Total Factoring Volume by country in the last 7 years (in Millions of EUR).

Source: Factors Chain International (FCI)

6. Reasons for Non-Patronization of Factoring in Nigeria

The Nigerian economy is mono economy where dependence is on one product that is, crude oil.  In this type of situation, where the government is exporter, there is no need of factor in an arrangement of this. As shown in Table 1 above, the total factoring volume by countries from 2007- 2013 in Millions of EUR are: 1,216,438; 7,613,842; 126,197 and 319,360 for Americas, Europe, Africa and Australasia respectively. The Total for the Africa continent is the lowest and Nigeria is conspicuously missing. The indication is that Nigeria is not part of the country that patronizes factoring as alternative financing source.

7. Conclusion

Factoring is a short term financing arrangement where companies that are facing a cash flow squeeze and slow paying customers sell their receivables to specialized companies call factors. The companies using factoring embrace it because; they get money quickly rather than waiting for the usual 30 or 60 days for payment. As good as the arrangement is, from the empirical studies surveyed, it was discovered that this financing method is not patronized by Nigerian companies. From Table 1, it was discovered that there are no factor company operating in Nigeria. In Africa, there are only five countries; namely Egypt, Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia according to Factors Chain International (FCI). The reason for this ignorant neglect is due to the level of development of capital market, weak political and legal system symbolizing characteristics of emerging market.

References

1. Berger, A., Udell, G.(2004). A more complete conceptual framework for SME finance, The WBank, MC 13-121.
2. Bakket, M.H.R., Klapper, L., Udell, G.F (2004). Financing small and medium-size enterprises with factoring: Global growth in factoring - and its potential in Eastern Europe, The World Bank, Warsaw, Poland.
3. Biscoe, P. N.(1975). Law and practice of credit factoring. Butterworth & Company, 5
4. Bushman, R.M., Smith, A.J.(2003). Transparency, financial accounting information, and corporate governance, Economic Policy Review, Vol. 9, pp. 65-87,
5. Daniel, J. B.,Mushfiq, S., Travis, L. S and SheltonWeek, H. (2010). Accounts receivable factoring as a response to weak governance: Panel Data Evidence.International Business and Economics Research Journal. Vol., No.2; 1-12
6. Demirguc-Kunt, A., Maksimovic, V.(2002). Firms as financial intermediaries: evidence fromtrade credit data, World Bank working paper.
7. FCI. Factors Chain International [online] [cit. 2012‐04‐07], Available from: http://www.fci.nl/about‐fci.
8. Fisman, R., Love, I.(2003). Trade credit, financial intermediary development, and industry growth. Journal of Finance 58, 353-374.
9. Fisman, R., Raturi, M., 2004. Does competition encourage credit provision? Evidence from African trade credit relationships. Review of Economics and Statistics 86, 345-52.
10. Jaroslava, Janeková (2012). Factoring – alternative source of a company financing. International Journal of Engineering, FASCICULE 3 (ISSN 1584-2673), 303-306.
11. Klapper, L., Determinants of global factoring, The World Bank, 2000.
12. Klapper, L.(2005). The role of factoring for financing small and medium enterprise. Policy Research Working Paper Series 3593, The World Bank.
13. Klapper, L.(2006). The role of factoring for financing small and medium enterprises, Journal of Banking & Finance, Vol. 30, pp. 3111-3130.
14. Litan, R.E., Pomerleano, M., Sundararajan, V., Strengthening financial sector governance in emerging markets, in: Litan, R.E., Pomerleano, M., Sundararajan, V. (Eds.), Financial Sector Governance: The Roles of the Public and Private Sectors, Brookings Institution Press, Washington, D.C., pp. 1-13, 2002.
15. Lotz, B.(1992). Factoring may boost your company’s cash flow. Business Credit, Vol. 94, No. 7, 38-39.
16. Mian, S.L., Smith, C. (1992). Accounts receivable management policy: Theory and evidence, Journal of Finance, Vol. 47, No. 1, 169-200.
17. McMillan, J., Woodruff, C., 1999. Inter-firm relationships and informal credit in Vietnam. Quarterly Journal of Economics 114, 1285-1320.
18. Schumpeter, J.A.(1911). The theory of economic development, Harvard University Press, Cambridge.
19. Smith J., Schnucker, C.(1994). An empirical examination of the organizational structure: The economics of the factoring decision, The Journal of Corporate Finance: Contracting, Governance and Organization, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 1119-138.
20. Sopranzetti, B. J., 1998. The economics of factoring accounts receivable. Journal of Economics and Business 50, 339-359.
21. Sufi Amir, 2007. Information Asymmetry and Financing Arrangements: Evidence from Syndicated Loans, Journal of Finance 62 (2): 629-668.
22. Van Horen, N., 2004. Do firms use trade credit as a competitiveness tool? Evidence fromdeveloping countries, World Bank mimeo.