What Is a Reverse Repurchase Agreement (RRP)? How It Works, With Example

What Is a Reverse Repurchase Agreement (RRP)?

A reverse repurchase agreement (RRP), or reverse repo, is the sale of securities with the agreement to repurchase them at a higher price at a specific future date. A reverse repo refers to the seller side of a repurchase agreement (RP), or repo.

These transactions, which often occur between two banks, are essentially collateralized loans. The difference between the original purchase price and the buyback price, along with the timing of the transaction (often overnight), equates to interest paid by the seller to the buyer. The reverse repo is the final step in the repurchase agreement, closing the contract.

How Reverse Repurchase Agreements (RRPs) Work

Repos are classified as a money market instrument, and they are usually used to raise short-term capital. Reverse repurchase agreements (RRPs, or reverse repos) are the seller end of a repurchase agreement. These financial instruments are also called collateralized loans, buy/sell back loans, and sell/buy back loans.

Reverse repos are commonly used by businesses like lending institutions or investors to access short-term capital when facing cash flow issues. In essence, the borrower sells a business asset, equipment, or even shares in its company. Then, at a set future time, the lender sells the asset back for a higher price.

The higher price represents the interest to the buyer for loaning money to the seller during the duration of the deal. The asset acquired by the buyer acts as collateral against any default risk that it faces from the seller. Short-term RRPs hold smaller collateral risks than long-term RRPs because, over the long term, assets held as collateral can often depreciate in value, causing collateral risk for the buyer.

In a macro example of RRPs, the Federal Reserve Bank uses repos and RRPs to provide stability in lending markets through open market operations (OMOs). The RRP transaction is used less often than a repo by the Fed, as a repo puts money into the banking system when it is short, whereas an RRP borrows money from the system when there is too much liquidity. The Fed conducts RRPs to maintain long-term monetary policy and control capital liquidity levels in the market.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements vs. Buy or Sell Backs

An RRP differs from buy or sell backs in a simple way. Buy or sell back agreements legally document each transaction separately, providing clear separation in each transaction. In this way, each transaction can legally stand on its own without the enforcement of the other. RRPs, on the other hand, have each phase of the agreement legally documented within the same contract and ensure the availability and right to each phase of the agreement.

Lastly, in an RRP, although collateral is in essence purchased, the collateral generally never changes physical location or actual ownership. If the seller defaults against the buyer, then the collateral would need to be physically transferred.

Example of Reverse Repurchase Agreements

Let’s say Bank ABC currently has excess cash reserves, and it is looking to put some of that money to work. Meanwhile, Bank XYZ is facing a reserve shortfall and needs a temporary cash boost. Bank XYZ may enter a reverse repo agreement with Bank ABC, agreeing to sell securities for the other bank to hold overnight before buying them back at a slightly higher price. From the perspective of Bank ABC, which buys the securities and agrees to sell them back at a premium the next day, the transaction is a repurchase agreement.

The Bottom Line

A reverse repurchase agreement (RRP), or reverse repo, refers to the seller side of a repurchase agreement (repo). The party executing the reverse repo sells assets to the other party while agreeing to buy them back later at a slightly higher price. From a practical perspective, a reverse repo agreement is akin to taking out a short-term loan, with the underlying assets serving as collateral.