What does ‘derecognition of trade receivables’ actually mean?
When a factoring agreement is considered, from an accounting perspective, as “non-recourse”, the trade receivables shown on the company’s balance sheet are reduced by the amount of the receivables assigned. In other words, customer invoices are converted into cash without increasing the company’s reported debt level.
However, while the derecognition aspect of a factoring program brings many advantages, it is not the standard for all companies using this type of financing. Today, it is mainly used by listed companies and mid-sized enterprises (ETIs), although more and more SMEs are now gaining access to it.
Advantages of off balance sheet factoring
- A significantly reduced DSO (Days Sales Outstanding) and working capital requirement (WCR). The company therefore frees up cash to finance organic growth or acquisitions.
- Improved financial ratios, such as leverage (Net Debt / EBITDA) and financial autonomy (Net Debt / Equity).
For an agreement to qualify as “non-recourse,” it must meet a key requirement: the factor must assume the majority of the credit risk on the purchased receivables. This means the factor bears losses related to customer insolvency (e.g. restructuring or liquidation proceedings) as well as payment delays. Invoices must not be repayable by the selling company. To accept this transfer of credit risk, factors rely on credit insurance. Therefore, derecognised receivables are limited to insured amounts.
However, the absence of recourse on credit risk does not mean the factor has no other recourse rights on the receivables – far from it. Other types of recourse (disputed invoices, VAT issues, etc.) remain contractually defined and require careful analysis by auditors.
Can I transfer all customer risk (and therefore all potential losses) through a non-recourse factoring program?
Transferring customer risk to a factor requires both the factor’s acceptance and coverage by a credit insurer. As a result, factors are more demanding regarding the company’s credit management quality – from customer selection to collection processes.
As with any factoring or credit insurance arrangement, the better the risk is managed, the more optimized the program will be.
Consequently, only part of the receivables can be derecognised:
- Receivables covered by credit insurance at the time of assignment
- The portion of activity not subject to disputes, returns, rebates, or complex invoicing processes that would exclude them from eligibility
The factor or credit insurer may exclude a high-risk customer at any time, although this decision does not retroactively affect already assigned receivables. Companies therefore need to maintain strong receivables management in order to maximize the benefit of a derecognition program.
Our experience in off balance sheet factoring
Today, derecognition transactions are the main growth driver of the factoring market. All factors and credit insurers have adapted their contracts to meet the requirements of auditors. However, negotiations remain complex, and each agreement is highly tailored. At Fibus, this trend is even more pronounced: 80% of our tender documents include derecognition as a key requirement for companies. We frequently work with the same auditors, which often facilitates discussions.
We also have extensive experience working with French companies as well as international groups operating across multiple countries and subject to IFRS and US GAAP standards.
Going further
It is not possible to cover all aspects of derecognition factoring in a single article. Each contract is unique and must be adapted to the specific characteristics of each company. Accounting standards (IFRS, French GAAP, US GAAP, etc.) also require different analyses. A detailed study of the company’s activity and receivables is strongly recommended to assess the potential benefits of derecognition factoring.
As a specialized broker, Fibus provides dedicated teams to support companies in the study, implementation, and negotiation of their factoring arrangements.