Like Bank Guarantees, Contract Bonds are a financial instrument, rather than a financial product, and is a three-party contract.
Contract Bonds are part of the broader Surety Bond range and provide protection for the principal/project owner against the default or non-performance of the contractor for a particular contract.
The Contract Bond is issued by an insurer (Party 1) in favour of the principal/project owner (Party 2) undertaking that part or all of the bond amount will be paid to the principal/project owner in the event the nominated contractor (Party 3) does not perform in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract awarded.
Similar to a bank guarantee, the contractor requests that the Contract Bond is issued in favour of the principal/project owner. Whilst the contractor pays for the Contract Bond, the principal/project owner is the beneficiary in the event that the Contract Bond is called.
Contract Bonds carry the same wording as a bank guarantee and follow the Australian Standards template (such as AS2124, which requires an unconditional and on demand undertaking) and carry exactly the same obligations at law as a bank guarantee. Insurers are not able to call their offering a bank guarantee, as they are not a registered bank. Otherwise the offerings are identical.
Like bank guarantees, payment must be made by the insurer on demand, unless the bond specifically states otherwise and without any assessment as to the amount to be paid. The only assessment occurring is to ensure the claim is made in terms of the Contract Bond itself - a process identical to the payment of a bank guarantee.
Surety Bonds, which include Contract Bonds, have been part of the Australian market for over 60 years and are widely accepted by the private sector and Commonwealth, State and Local Government Authorities and Agencies.
Some self-interested parties push the line that Surety Bonds issued by insurers are not as secure as bank guarantees. The recent global financial crisis pretty well pushes that misconception out of the equation.
The reality is that the major international insurers, which include Lloyds of London, have credit ratings equal or greater than most global financial institutions.
One key aspect often overlooked is that Surety Bonds fall outside the Bankruptcy Act in Australia, therefore, in the event of the liquidation of a contractor, the principal/project owners aren’t impacted as their call is against the insurer and not as an unsecured creditor as is the case with a bank guarantee.
Contract Bonds are an integral part of the construction process, providing protection to the principal/project owner against the default or non-performance of a contractor.
In difference to bank guarantees and from a principal’s/property owner’s perspective, there’s the added advantage that the contractor's performance ability has been independently assessed by the insurer who holds valuable knowledge about the contractor’s involvement in other projects and their performance and claim’s history.
Before agreeing to issue a Contract Bond, a comprehensive review of the contractor's performance is undertaken, which includes an assessment of the contractor's financial status, management strength and past performance record with respect to prior contracts.
From a contractor’s perspective, their bank credit facilities are totally or partially freed of bank guarantees, thus delivering greater financial leverage from their asset base and freeing up working capital and cash flow. This allows for increased growth opportunities.
Typically, standard contracts require the contractor to offer some form of surety to the principal/project owner which is 5% to 15% of the total contract value. The percentage may be tiered depending on the stages and timeframe of the relevant project.
Contract Bonds are issued prior to commencement of the contract and expire on achievement of a specified milestone, such as the issuance by the principal/project owner of a Certificate of Practical/ Final Completion (after the maintenance/ latent defects period), Handover Certificate or equivalent.
Contract Bonds cater for a number of stages in the life of a project.
After many years of focusing on larger corporates, several insurers are now cautiously looking at medium sized entities.
However, it’s imperative that insurers aren’t swamped by ‘poor quality’ applicants, as they have limited underwriting resources and low appetite for poorly presented risks.
We’ll help to identify ‘quality’ opportunities and act as a ‘filter’ to ensure these potential opportunities have a high probability of being accepted by the insurers.
The relevant insurers have A+ or higher credit rating. Obviously applicants need to confirm that the beneficiary is willing to accept an insurance bond before venturing forward.
Typically, contractors are involved with an ongoing number of existing and
new projects, so we establish a ‘multi-bond facility’. Not dissimilar to an
approved line of credit with a financial institution that can be drawn
down/used/reused as required.
The pricing of Contract Bonds depends upon the risk profile of the
contractor; the Contract Bond amount required; the duration of the particular
project; specialist aspects of the particular project; and any other relevant
information. The determined premium must be paid in full prior to the Contract Bond
being released to the nominated party.
This will only occur if the contractor has defaulted or has not performed
in accordance with the particular contract.
If the principal/project owner seeks a payout under the Contract Bond, the
insurer will pay the principal/project owner and then immediately seek recovery
of the claimed amount from the contractor.
The recovery is either against the
operating entity or the director’s personal guarantees.
The acceptance criteria vary per insurer, so the following is a generalisation and specific bond applications will be assessed on own merits.
Your client can apply for an Assessment - Click here
Best to chat with us as to your client needs, so we can determine the most appropriate insurer.
Once identified, there’s an initial insurer application form, plus supporting applicant financial and operational documents.
On the basis that the insurer receives the information and documentation requested, for the initial application for ‘one-off’ bonds, please allow upwards of 10 business days for approval and issuing and for an ‘annual facility’, upwards of 20 business days. Once the insurer is familiar with ‘one-off’ bond applicants, the timeframe is upwards of 5 business days and for bond applicants with a pre-approved facility, the timeframe for additional bonds is within a few business days.
Non-refundable assessment fees apply with amounts varying, based on the bond need. Also note that bond premiums are required to be paid to the insurer before bonds are issued and released.
Please factor your client’s response times (providing information & payment) into the above indicative timeframes.
Underwriting Australia, established in 2008, specialises in niche insurances.
Managing Director, Kerry Henry, has a combined insurance and banking career spanning 40+ years, achieving the level of Managing Director and Vice President, in insurance, insurance broking, merchant banking and now specialist underwriting agencies. Based in Sydney, Kerry has extensive experience in Insurance Bonding and financial analysis.
Alan Vanniekerk, also started in insurance, however, has spent much of his career in finance & leasing, achieving the level of Chief Executive Officer in Australia and India for an international leasing company. Splitting his time between Sydney and Kuala Lumpur, Alan also has extensive experience in financial analysis, accounting, transfer pricing and international taxation.
In addition, we have a team of skilled analysts in Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.