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Lending and borrowing

Are there any restrictions on lending and borrowing?

Germany

Germany

Lending

Lending business is qualified as licensable banking business and subject to prior authorization by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin)).

Borrowing

Borrowing does not constitute a regulated activity in Germany.

Last modified 20 Oct 2017

Are there any restrictions on lending and borrowing?

Lending

Lending business is qualified as licensable banking business and subject to prior authorization by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin)).

Borrowing

Borrowing does not constitute a regulated activity in Germany.

What are common lending structures?

Lending in Germany can be structured in a number of different ways to include a variety of features depending on the commercial needs of the parties.

A loan can either be provided on a bilateral basis (a single lender providing the entire facility) or syndicated basis (multiple lenders each providing parts of the overall facility).

Syndicated facilities by their nature involve more parties (such as agents and trustees which fulfil certain roles for the finance parties), are more highly structured and involve more complex documentation. Larger financings will typically be done on a syndicated basis with one of the syndicate taking the lead in coordinating and arranging the financing.

Loans will be structured to achieve specific objectives, eg term loans, working-capital loans, equity bridge facilities, project facilities and letter of credit facilities.

A peculiarity in German law is the Schuldscheindarlehen – a specific financial instrument with a hybrid structure which sits between debt securities and bilateral/syndicated bank loans. Schuldscheindarlehen refers to an underlying loan agreement for which a separate borrower's note (ie Schuldschein) as documentary evidence of the loan debt is usually issued. Schuldscheindarlehen are exempt from the obligation to publish a prospectus under European prospectus law. They enable borrowers to gain access to institutional capital markets investors that usually cannot be reached via other bank financings. See the LMA Schuldschein Product Guide published by the Loan Market Association (LMA) for more information.

Loan durations

The duration of a loan can also vary between:

  • a term loan, provided for an agreed period of time but with a short availability period;
  • a revolving loan, provided for an agreed period of time with an availability period that extends nearer to maturity of the loan and which may be redrawn if repaid;
  • an overdraft, provided on a short-term basis to solve short-term cash flow issues; or
  • a standby or a bridging loan, intended to be used in exceptional circumstances when other forms of finance are unavailable and often attracting a higher margin.

Loan security

A loan can either be secured, unsecured or guaranteed. For more information, see Giving and taking guarantees and security.

Loan commitment

A loan can also be:

  • committed, meaning that the lender is obliged to provide the loan if certain conditions are fulfilled; or
  • uncommitted, meaning that the lender has discretion whether or not to provide the loan.

Loan repayment

A loan can also be repayable on demand, on an amortizing basis (in instalments over the life of the loan) or scheduled (usually meaning the loan is repayable in full at maturity).

What are the differences between lending to institutional / professional or other borrowers?

Lending to institutional/professional borrowers is subject to less regulatory oversight and so less burdensome from a compliance perspective.

By contrast, lending to consumers is a regulated activity and subject to special requirements for consumer credit agreements pursuant to section 491 et seq. of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch – BGB), regarding, for example, the written form, minimum content, information obligations of the lender and right of withdrawal of the borrower.

Do the laws recognize the principles of agency and trusts?

The principle of agency is recognized under German law. For instance, it is possible to appoint an agent to act on behalf of other parties.

The English common law concept of trust is not recognized as a matter of German law. However, the same effect of a trust is achieved through the use of a similar German law legal instrument, namely a Treuhand which creates a contractual fiduciary relationship. Hence, in a finance transaction the security can be held by a security agent for the benefit of the secured parties as trustee under German law (Sicherheitentreuhänder) on similar conditions as a English common law trust. Particular provisions are required with respect to accessory security interests. (For more information, see Giving and taking guarantees and security.) Please note that, in order to minimize insolvency risks, the payment streams have to be checked on a case-by-case basis as the German Sicherungstreuhand does not, in contrast to an English common law trust, create a separate legal estate.

Are there any other notable risks or issues around lending?

Generally

Loan agreements and other finance documents are subject to general contractual principles, such as:

  • the general civil law principle of good faith (Treu und Glauben);
  • the general civil law principle prohibiting violation of good morals (gute Sitten);
  • usury (Wucher); and
  • the prohibition of compound interest (Zinseszinsverbot) under German law.

Standard form documentation

Most German law syndicated finance transactions are governed by documentation based on the German law versions of the recommended forms published by the Loan Market Association (LMA) in the English language. Bilateral finance transactions are more likely to be documented on bank standard form documentation prepared in-house in German language. Sometimes, the standard documentation developed by the Association of German Banks (Bundesverband deutscher Banken) is used.

Are there any other notable risks or issues around borrowing?

Borrowers should be aware of the potential implications of the EU’s Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD), which outlines certain measures for dealing with failing financial institutions.

The BRRD applies to financial institutions incorporated in the European Economic Area (EEA), but does not apply to EEA branches of non-EEA incorporated entities.

Article 55 of the BRRD gives authorities the power to ‘bail in’ obligations of failed EEA financial institutions and also postpone the enforcement of early termination rights against the affected institution. ‘Bail in’ describes a variety of write down and conversion powers, such as the power to convert certain liabilities into shares or cancel debt instruments. In the case of English or other EEA law contracts, such powers override what the contracts says. In the case of non-EEA law contracts, there are requirements to incorporate such provisions into the contract.

Are there any restrictions on giving and taking guarantees and security?

Some of the key areas affecting the giving of guarantees and security are as follows.

Insolvency

Under German insolvency laws the fulfilment of a debt, the granting of collateral or enabling a counterparty to obtain such fulfilment or collateral may be contested by the insolvency administrator if the guarantee or security was granted by a company within certain periods of time (suspect periods) prior to the filing of insolvency proceedings against such company. This would be the case if, for example, the granting of collateral was made during the three months prior to the request to open insolvency proceedings, the company was illiquid on the date of the transaction, or the creditor was aware of his insolvency on this date (section 130 of the German Insolvency Act (Insolvenzordnung)). Awareness of circumstances indicating insolvency or to a request to open insolvency proceedings are deemed equivalent to awareness of insolvency or of the request to open insolvency proceedings. Guarantees and security may also be challenged on other grounds relating to insolvency. Outside of insolvency proceedings, transactions and payments of the company may be contested by creditors under the Avoidance of Transactions Act (Gesetz über die Anfechtung von Rechtshandlungen eines Schuldners außerhalb des Insolvenzverfahrens – AnfG) which provides rights to creditors similar to those of an insolvency administrator in insolvency proceedings.

Financial assistance/upstream security

Pursuant to German statutory law on capital maintenance requirements, a limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung – GmbH) may, in general terms, only grant upstream security to its shareholders to the extent it has free reserves in its balance sheet. Free reserves are roughly equal to the total assets minus total liabilities and provisions, minus stated share capital. The principle also applies to the general partner in a partnership in the form of a GmbH and Co. KG. A stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft – AG) may not grant upstream security at all. Exemptions apply under domination and profit transfer agreements and to payments which are covered by a full claim to counterperformance or restitution against the shareholder. In order to achieve compliance with the relevant statutory law, so called 'limitation language' has to be introduced in the relevant finance documentation.

Accessory security interests

Accessory security interests that depend on the existence of the underlying secured claim, such as guarantees and pledges must be granted to and held by each secured creditor and are automatically terminated and released by operation of mandatory German law upon satisfaction of the underlying secured claim. This can be an issue in certain cases, for example syndicated loans or, in case of the transfer of a lender's rights and obligations under a loan agreement, by way of novation. For such cases parallel debt structures have been established by the market.

Parallel debt structure

Non-accessory security interests (that exist irrespective of a secured claim, such as security assignment, security transfer or land charge) can be held by a security agent for the benefit of the secured parties as trustee under German law (Sicherheitentreuhänder). For more information, see Lending and borrowing

With respect to accessory security interests, such as guarantees and pledges, the standard technique used for sharing security between various creditors under syndicated loans is by the use of a parallel debt structure. With this structure, a second claim is created for the benefit of the security agent as an abstract acknowledgment of debt in the amount of the original payment obligations under the loan agreement (Parallel Debt). As the creditor of the Parallel Debt, the security agent can then hold and administer the accessory security. Provisions in an inter-creditor agreement or collateral agency agreement usually stipulate that the security agent acts on the instructions of the other secured parties. Please note that, although the Parallel Debt structure is commonly used in the market and generally accepted in German legal doctrine, its validity has never been tested by the German courts.

Floating charges

The concept of a floating charge is not recognized as a matter of German law.

What are common types of guarantees and security?

Common forms of guarantees

Guarantees may take the form of a performance guarantee or a payment guarantee. The most common form in finance transactions is the payment guarantee.

German law further distinguishes between an accessory guarantee and an independent (non-accessory) guarantee, such as payment guarantees upon first demand. German courts held that, to be valid, a guarantee upon first demand needs to be granted by a guarantor experienced in international transactions and familiar with guarantees upon first demand. This is due to the fact that a guarantor giving a guarantee upon first demand has only limited defenses, for example the objection of abuse of law. In contrast, a guarantor who gives an accessory guarantee may rely on the defenses to which the principal debtor is entitled.

Common forms of security

The security package which is granted for financings mainly depends on the financed asset and the specific transaction. Typically, the following security interests are requested by the lenders:

Share/interest pledge

A pledge of shares in a German limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung – GmbH) requires notarization whereas a pledge over interests in a limited partnership (Kommanditgesellschaft – KG) can be entered into in simple written form. A pledge over shares in a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft – AG) may also be completed without observing specific formalities; only the share certificates issued for the relevant shares need to be transferred to the pledgee. The notification of the relevant company/partnership is not required for the perfection of the security. However, the articles of association of a company may provide for the requirement of the company's approval. As an accessory security interest, the share/interest pledge must be granted to and held by each secured creditor. Therefore, a parallel debt structure is usually implemented in syndicated financings. For more information, see Lending and borrowing.

Bank account pledge

The notification of the account bank is required for the perfection of the security. The account bank usually has a first ranking pledge pursuant to its general business terms; if the lending bank wishes to obtain a first ranking security, the account bank then may be asked to waive/subordinate its rights pursuant to its general business terms. Security must be granted to and held by each secured creditor. Therefore, a parallel debt structure is usually introduced in syndicated financings. For more information, see Lending and borrowing.

Security assignment of receivables and claims

Unless disclosed to the debtors of the assigned receivables (third party debtors), the debtor may continue to pay with discharging effect to the assignor. The notification of the assignment is no perfection requirement, but common where there are only a small number of third party debtors (eg with respect to claims under insurance agreements).

Security transfer of moveable assets (such as inventory and equipment)

It is very important to describe the assets precisely, for example by using maps or serial numbers, in order to ensure their determinability when acquired (particularly in relation to future assets) or enforced. Typically, the specification of transferred assets is done by a combination of describing the area where the assets are located and by delivery of a list of the relevant assets. If the assets are fixtures (ie they relate to the relevant premises in such a way that they cannot be legally separated from the premises) then land security should be obtained.

Mortgage or land charge over land and buildings

A mortgage or land charge must be created by notarized deed. In addition, the registration of the mortgage or land charge in the relevant land register (Grundbuch) is required for its effectiveness. The notary and registration fees depend on the nominal amount and may be significant.

Are there any other notable risks or issues around giving and taking guarantees and security?

Giving or taking guarantees

In order to be valid, a guarantee upon first demand must be granted by a guarantor experienced in international transactions and familiar with guarantees upon first demand. This is because the guarantor of a guarantee upon first demand has only limited defenses. For more information, see Giving and taking guarantees and security – common types.

Giving or taking security

Notarization requirements

The following security interests require notarization under German law:

  • a pledge over shares in a German limited liability company; and
  • the creation of a mortgage or land charge.

Registration requirements

A mortgage or land charge must be registered in the relevant land register (Grundbuch) to become valid.

Initial and subsequent over-collateralization

In case of an initial disproportionate relationship between the value of the granted security and the secured claims (initial over-collateralization), the agreement creating such security may be invalid. If, after the conclusion of the agreement (subsequent over-collateralization), the value of the security exceeds 110% of the secured claims, the grantor may have a claim for release of the excess security.

Wolfram Distler

Wolfram Distler

Partner
DLA Piper LLP
[email protected]
T +49 69 271 33 022
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