Chapter 405

405.103 405.103 Scope.

405.103(1) (1) This chapter applies to letters of credit and to certain rights and obligations arising out of transactions involving letters of credit.

405.103(2) (2) The statement of a rule in this chapter does not by itself require, imply, or negate application of the same or a different rule to a situation not provided for, or to a person not specified, in this chapter.

405.103(3) (3) With the exception of this subsection, subs. (1) and (4), ss. 405.102 (1) (i) and (j), 405.106 (4) and 405.114 (4), and except to the extent prohibited in ss. 401.302 and 405.117 (4), the effect of this chapter may be varied by agreement or by a provision stated or incorporated by reference in an undertaking. A term in an agreement or undertaking generally excusing liability or generally limiting remedies for failure to perform obligations is not sufficient to vary obligations prescribed by this chapter.

405.103(4) (4) Rights and obligations of an issuer to a beneficiary or a nominated person under a letter of credit are independent of the existence, performance, or nonperformance of a contract or arrangement out of which the letter of credit arises or which underlies it, including contracts or arrangements between the issuer and the applicant and between the applicant and the beneficiary.

405.103 History History: 2005 a. 213; 2011 a. 257.

405.104 405.104 Formal requirements. A letter of credit, confirmation, advice, transfer, amendment, or cancellation may be issued in any form that is a record and is authenticated by any of the following methods:

405.104(1) (1) A signature.

405.104(2) (2) In accordance with the agreement of the parties or the standard practice referred to in s. 405.108 (5).

405.104 History History: 2005 a. 213.

405.105 405.105 Consideration. Consideration is not required to issue, amend, transfer, or cancel a letter of credit, advice, or confirmation.

405.105 History History: 2005 a. 213.

405.106 405.106 Issuance, amendment, cancellation, and duration.

405.106(1) (1) A letter of credit is issued and becomes enforceable according to its terms against the issuer when the issuer sends or otherwise transmits it to the person requested to advise or to the beneficiary. A letter of credit is revocable only if it so provides.

405.106(2) (2) After a letter of credit is issued, rights and obligations of a beneficiary, applicant, confirmer, and issuer are not affected by an amendment or cancellation to which that person has not consented except to the extent the letter of credit provides that it is revocable or that the issuer may amend or cancel the letter of credit without that consent.

405.106(3) (3) If there is no stated expiration date or other provision that determines its duration, a letter of credit expires one year after its stated date of issuance or, if none is stated, after the date on which it is issued.

405.106(4) (4) A letter of credit that states that it is perpetual expires 5 years after its stated date of issuance, or if none is stated, after the date on which it is issued.

405.106 History History: 2005 a. 213.

405.107 405.107 Confirmer, nominated person, and adviser.

405.107(1) (1) A confirmer is directly obligated on a letter of credit and has the rights and obligations of an issuer to the extent of its confirmation. The confirmer also has rights against and obligations to the issuer as if the issuer were an applicant and the confirmer had issued the letter of credit at the request and for the account of the issuer.

405.107(2) (2) A nominated person who is not a confirmer is not obligated to honor or otherwise give value for a presentation.

405.107(3) (3) A person requested to advise may decline to act as an adviser. An adviser that is not a confirmer is not obligated to honor or give value for a presentation. An adviser undertakes to the issuer and to the beneficiary accurately to advise the terms of the letter of credit, confirmation, amendment, or advice received by that person and undertakes to the beneficiary to check the apparent authenticity of the request to advise. Even if the advice is inaccurate, the letter of credit, confirmation, or amendment is enforceable as issued.

405.107(4) (4) A person who notifies a transferee beneficiary of the terms of a letter of credit, confirmation, amendment, or advice has the rights and obligations of an adviser under sub. (3). The terms in the notice to the transferee beneficiary may differ from the terms in any notice to the transferor beneficiary to the extent permitted by the letter of credit, confirmation, amendment, or advice received by the person who so notifies.

405.107 History History: 2005 a. 213.

405.108 405.108 Issuer’s rights and obligations.

405.108(1) (1) Except as otherwise provided in s. 405.109, an issuer shall honor a presentation that, as determined by the standard practice referred to in sub. (5), appears on its face strictly to comply with the terms and conditions of the letter of credit. Except as otherwise provided in s. 405.113 and unless otherwise agreed with the applicant, an issuer shall dishonor a presentation that does not appear so to comply.

405.108(2) (2) An issuer has a reasonable time after presentation, but not beyond the end of the 7th business day of the issuer after the day of its receipt of documents, to do any of the following:

405.108(2)(a) (a) To honor.

405.108(2)(b) (b) If the letter of credit provides for honor to be completed more than 7 business days after presentation, to accept a draft or incur a deferred obligation.

405.108(2)(c) (c) To give notice to the presenter of discrepancies in the presentation.

405.108(3) (3) Except as otherwise provided in sub. (4), an issuer is precluded from asserting as a basis for dishonor any discrepancy if timely notice is not given, or any discrepancy not stated in the notice if timely notice is given.

405.108(4) (4) Failure to give the notice specified in sub. (2) or to mention fraud, forgery, or expiration in the notice does not preclude the issuer from asserting as a basis for dishonor fraud or forgery as described in s. 405.109 (1) or expiration of the letter of credit before presentation.

405.108(5) (5) An issuer shall observe standard practice of financial institutions that regularly issue letters of credit. Determination of the standard practice is a matter of interpretation for the court. The court shall offer the parties a reasonable opportunity to present evidence of the standard practice.

405.108(6) (6) An issuer is not responsible for any of the following:

405.108(6)(a) (a) The performance or nonperformance of the underlying contract, arrangement, or transaction.

405.108(6)(b) (b) An act or omission of others.

405.108(6)(c) (c) Observance or knowledge of the usage of a particular trade other than the standard practice referred to in sub. (5).

405.108(7) (7) If an undertaking constituting a letter of credit contains nondocumentary conditions, an issuer shall disregard the nondocumentary conditions and treat them as if they were not stated.

405.108(8) (8) An issuer that has dishonored a presentation shall return the documents or hold them at the disposal of, and send advice to that effect to, the presenter.

405.108(9) (9) An issuer that has honored a presentation as permitted or required by this chapter:

405.108(9)(a) (a) Is entitled to be reimbursed by the applicant in immediately available funds not later than the date of its payment of funds;

405.108(9)(b) (b) Takes the documents free of claims of the beneficiary or presenter;

405.108(9)(c) (c) Is precluded from asserting a right of recourse on a draft under ss. 403.414 and 403.415;

405.108(9)(d) (d) Except as otherwise provided in ss. 405.110 and 405.117, is precluded from restitution of money paid or other value given by mistake to the extent the mistake concerns discrepancies in the documents or tender that are apparent on the face of the presentation; and

405.108(9)(e) (e) Is discharged to the extent of its performance under the letter of credit unless the issuer honored a presentation in which a required signature of a beneficiary was forged.

405.108 History History: 2005 a. 213.

405.109 405.109 Fraud and forgery.

405.109(1) (1) If a presentation is made that appears on its face strictly to comply with the terms and conditions of the letter of credit, but a required document is forged or materially fraudulent, or honor of the presentation would facilitate a material fraud by the beneficiary on the issuer or applicant:

405.109(1)(a) (a) The issuer shall honor the presentation, if honor is demanded by any of the following:

405.109(1)(a)1. 1. A nominated person that has given value in good faith and without notice of forgery or material fraud.

405.109(1)(a)2. 2. A confirmer that has honored its confirmation in good faith.

405.109(1)(a)3. 3. A holder in due course of a draft drawn under the letter of credit that was taken after acceptance by the issuer or nominated person.

405.109(1)(a)4. 4. An assignee of the issuer’s or nominated person’s deferred obligation that was taken for value and without notice of forgery or material fraud after the obligation was incurred by the issuer or nominated person.

405.109(1)(b) (b) The issuer, acting in good faith, may honor or dishonor the presentation in any case not described under par. (a).

405.109(2) (2) If an applicant claims that a required document is forged or materially fraudulent or that honor of the presentation would facilitate a material fraud by the beneficiary on the issuer or applicant, a court of competent jurisdiction may temporarily or permanently enjoin the issuer from honoring a presentation or grant similar relief against the issuer or other persons only if the court finds that all of the following conditions are met:

405.109(2)(a) (a) The relief is not prohibited under the law applicable to an accepted draft or deferred obligation incurred by the issuer.

405.109(2)(b) (b) A beneficiary, issuer, or nominated person who may be adversely affected is adequately protected against loss that it may suffer because the relief is granted.

405.109(2)(c) (c) All of the conditions to entitle a person to the relief under the law of this state have been met.

405.109(2)(d) (d) On the basis of the information submitted to the court, the applicant is more likely than not to succeed under its claim of forgery or material fraud and the person demanding honor does not qualify for protection under sub. (1) (a).

405.109 History History: 2005 a. 213.

405.110 405.110 Warranties.

405.110(1) (1) If its presentation is honored, the beneficiary warrants all of the following:

405.110(1)(a) (a) To the issuer, any other person to whom presentation is made, and the applicant, that there is no fraud or forgery of the kind described in s. 405.109 (1).

405.110(1)(b) (b) To the applicant, that the drawing does not violate any agreement between the applicant and beneficiary or any other agreement intended by them to be augmented by the letter of credit.

405.110(2) (2) The warranties in sub. (1) are in addition to warranties arising under chs. 403, 404, 407, and 408 because of the presentation or transfer of documents covered by any of those chapters.

405.110 History History: 2005 a. 213.

405.111 405.111 Remedies.

405.111(1) (1) If an issuer wrongfully dishonors or repudiates its obligation to pay money under a letter of credit before presentation, the beneficiary, successor, or nominated person presenting on its own behalf may recover from the issuer the amount that is the subject of the dishonor or repudiation. If the issuer’s obligation under the letter of credit is not for the payment of money, the claimant may obtain specific performance or, at the claimant’s election, recover an amount equal to the value of performance from the issuer. In either case, the claimant may also recover incidental but not consequential damages. The claimant is not obligated to take action to avoid damages that might be due from the issuer under this subsection. If, although not obligated to do so, the claimant avoids damages, the claimant’s recovery from the issuer must be reduced by the amount of damages avoided. The issuer has the burden of proving the amount of damages avoided. In the case of repudiation the claimant need not present any document.

405.111(2) (2) If an issuer wrongfully dishonors a draft or demand presented under a letter of credit or honors a draft or demand in breach of its obligation to the applicant, the applicant may recover damages resulting from the breach, including incidental but not consequential damages, less any amount saved as a result of the breach.

405.111(3) (3) If an adviser or nominated person other than a confirmer breaches an obligation under this chapter or an issuer breaches an obligation not covered in sub. (1) or (2), a person to whom the obligation is owed may recover damages resulting from the breach, including incidental but not consequential damages, less any amount saved as a result of the breach. To the extent of the confirmation, a confirmer has the liability of an issuer specified in this subsection and subs. (1) and (2).

405.111(4) (4) An issuer, nominated person, or adviser who is found liable under sub. (1), (2), or (3) shall pay interest on the amount owed thereunder from the date of wrongful dishonor or other appropriate date.

405.111(5) (5) Reasonable attorney’s fees and other expenses of litigation shall be awarded to the prevailing party in an action in which a remedy is sought under this chapter.

405.111(6) (6) Damages that would otherwise be payable by a party for breach of an obligation under this chapter may be liquidated by agreement or undertaking, but only in an amount or by a formula that is reasonable in light of the harm anticipated.

405.111 History History: 2005 a. 213.

405.112 405.112 Transfer of letter of credit.

405.112(1) (1) Except as otherwise provided in s. 405.113, unless a letter of credit provides that it is transferable, the right of a beneficiary to draw or otherwise demand performance under a letter of credit may not be transferred.

405.112(2) (2) Even if a letter of credit provides that it is transferable, the issuer may refuse to recognize or carry out a transfer if any of the following conditions are met:

405.112(2)(a) (a) The transfer would violate applicable law.

405.112(2)(b) (b) The transferor or transferee has failed to comply with any requirement stated in the letter of credit or any other requirement relating to transfer imposed by the issuer which is within the standard practice referred to in s. 405.108 (5) or is otherwise reasonable under the circumstances.

405.112 History History: 2005 a. 213.

405.113 405.113 Transfer by operation of law.

405.113(1) (1) A successor of a beneficiary may consent to amendments, sign and present documents, and receive payment or other items of value in the name of the beneficiary without disclosing its status as a successor.

405.113(2) (2) A successor of a beneficiary may consent to amendments, sign and present documents, and receive payment or other items of value in its own name as the disclosed successor of the beneficiary. Except as otherwise provided in sub. (5), an issuer shall recognize a disclosed successor of a beneficiary as beneficiary in full substitution for its predecessor upon compliance with the requirements for recognition by the issuer of a transfer of drawing rights by operation of law under the standard practice referred to in s. 405.108 (5) or, in the absence of such a practice, compliance with other reasonable procedures sufficient to protect the issuer.

405.113(3) (3) An issuer is not obliged to determine whether a purported successor is a successor of a beneficiary or whether the signature of a purported successor is genuine or authorized.

405.113(4) (4) Honor of a purported successor’s apparently complying presentation under sub. (1) or (2) has the consequences specified in s. 405.108 (9) even if the purported successor is not the successor of a beneficiary. Documents signed in the name of the beneficiary or of a disclosed successor by a person who is neither the beneficiary nor the successor of the beneficiary are forged documents for the purposes of s. 405.109.

405.113(5) (5) An issuer whose rights of reimbursement are not covered by sub. (4) or substantially similar law and any confirmer or nominated person may decline to recognize a presentation under sub. (2).

405.113(6) (6) A beneficiary whose name is changed after the issuance of a letter of credit has the same rights and obligations as a successor of a beneficiary under this section.

405.113 History History: 2005 a. 213.

405.114 405.114 Assignment of proceeds.