CONTRACT ETD/2008/IM/H1/53 IMPLEMENTED BY FOR DBB LAW COMMISSION EUROPEENNE Pre-insolvency/early intervention, Reorganization measures and winding up proceedings of banking groups National Report GERMANY By Dr. Andreas LACHMANN I - Background information ........................................................................... 1 II - National regulation ................................................................................ 3 1) Differences between pre-insolvency/early intervention measures and reorganization/winding-up proceedings..................................................................... 4 2) Pre-insolvency and early intervention system ................................................. 5 3) Formal reorganization measures and winding up rules ................................. 12 4) Recent cases .................................................................................................. 22 For the purpose of this questions: - "reorganization measures" shall mean measures which are intended to preserve or restore the financial situation of a credit institution and which could affect third parties' pre-existing rights, including measures involving the possibility of a suspension of payments, suspension of enforcement measures or reduction of claims; - "winding-up proceedings" shall mean collective proceedings opened and monitored by the administrative or judicial authorities of a Member State with the aim of realizing assets under the supervision of those authorities, including where the proceedings are terminated by a composition or other, similar measure; -“pre-insolvency/early intervention” shall mean any intervention except and before reorganization measures and winding-up proceedings I - Background information In November 2005, the European Banking Committee identified five areas (liquidity risk management, crisis management, lending of last resort, deposit guarantee schemes and reorganization measures and winding-up proceedings) as part of the supervisory arrangements review to be performed according to Article 156 of Directive 2006/48/EC. Consequently, the Commission initiated the review process of the Directive on the 1 - reorganization and winding up of credit institutions (2001/24/EC) in August 2006. Under Directive 2001/24/EC, where a credit institution with branches in other Member States is wound up or reorganised, the winding up or reorganization measures are initiated and carried out under a single procedure by the authorities of the Member State where the credit institution has been authorised (known as the home Member State). This procedure is governed by the law of the home Member State. This approach is consistent with the principle of home Member State supervision pursuant to the EU Banking Directives. The Directive does not aim at harmonising national legislation, but at ensuring mutual recognition of Member States' reorganization measures and winding up proceedings as well as the necessary cooperation between authorities. Due to the mere coordinating nature of the Directive, Member States have different reorganization measures and winding up proceedings. Consequently, insolvency proceedings for credit institutions differ. Some Member States use the same general company and insolvency law for the reorganization measures and winding up of credit institutions as for other businesses, while others have special reorganization measures for credit institutions. The Directive covers only the insolvency of branches of credit institutions in other Member States, but does not cover subsidiaries of banking groups in other Member States. Directive 2001/24/EC is limited to procedural aspects concerning each legal entity within a cross border banking group. This limited scope does not allow to take into account synergies within such a group, which may benefit all creditors in case of reorganization measures. This lack of group-wide approach to winding up and reorganization measures could lead to the failure of subsidiaries or even the group, which could otherwise have been reorganised and remained solvent in whole or part. The October 2007 ECOFIN strategic roadmap for strengthening arrangements for financial stability requests the Commission EU For this purpose, the Commission carried out a public consultation (see also point 6 of the technical specifications). This consultation seeks clarification on: whether Directive 2001/24/EC on the reorganization and winding up of credit institutions leaves gaps and ambiguities which need to be removed, and issues related to the treatment of cross-border banking groups (i.e. parent credit institutions with subsidiaries in other Member States) in a crisis situation or under reorganization measures. The purpose of the public consultation was to take stock of legal frameworks in the different Member States relating to the reorganization and winding up of banking groups. The consultation also aimed at identifying problems preventing a smooth crisis management and a smooth resolution process. 2 - The focus of Commission's work is on possible reorganization of banking groups in contrast to ring fencing legal entities (and apply national resolution tools). II - National regulation Please provide a presentation of your national regulation (law, cases,…) and attach it as Annex A the relevant legal texts and cases summarized in English. The main focus of the work is how to find solutions in a cross border case of a banking group for both pre-insolvency/early intervention systems and formal insolvency (reorganization and winding up measures). Please formulate your answers in light of it. 3 - Differences between pre-insolvency/early intervention measures and reorganization/winding-up proceedings 1) Differences between pre-insolvency/early intervention measures and reorganization/winding-up proceedings 1.1 Please provide precise information about the key moments during or preceding a banking crisis: Please note firstly that reorganization measures in terms of the Directive 2001/24/EC and in terms of the German Law are not only reorganization measures in an insolvency proceeding as you assume in your introduction on the page before. Reorganisation measure in terms of the Directive and German law can also take place before an insolvency proceeding. Considering this a differentiation between pre-insolvency/early intervention measures and reorganization measures seems to be very difficult. The most parts of sec. 46 and 46a Banking Act belong to the reorganization measures regulated in the Directive but sec. 46 and 46a Banking Act also includes regulations which not belong to this. Measures regulated in German Law which are not comprehended by the Directive 2001/24/EC are amongst others the measures in case of inadequate own funds or inadequate liquidity according to sec. 45 Banking Act. Moment/event at which competent authorities trigger the requirement on a credit institution to take the necessary steps to redress the situation in order to meet minimum requirements in the Directive and to implement the measures referred to in Article 136(1) CRD. If the own funds fail to satisfy the requirements of sec. 10 (1), or the investment of its funds fails to satisfy the requirements of sec. 11 s. 1, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority may act (sec. 45 (1) Banking Act). Moment at which Member States trigger early intervention measures If the discharge of an institution's obligations to its creditors, and especially the safety of the assets entrusted to it, is endangered or if there are grounds for suspecting that effective supervision of the institution is not possible, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority may take temporary measures to avert the danger (sec. 46 (1) s. 1 Banking Act). If the conditions specified in sec. 46 (1) s. 1 obtain, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority may, to avert insolvency proceedings, order temporarily measures (sec. 46a (1) s. 1 Banking Act). Moment at which insolvency is declared. The Insolvency Code contains three reasons for an insolvency proceeding, the illiquidity (sec. 17), the imminent illiquidity (sec. 18) and the overindebtedness (sec. 19). The debtor is illiquid if he is unable to meet his mature obligations to pay.; illiquidity shall be presumed as a rule if the debtor has stopped payments (sec. 17 (2) Insolvency Code). 4 - Pre-insolvency and early intervention system He is imminent illiquidity if he is likely to be unable to meet his existing obligations to pay on the date of their maturity (sec. 18 (2) Insolvency Code). Overindebtedness shall exist if the assets owned by the debtor no longer cover his existing obligations to pay. In the assessment of the debtor's assets, however, the continuation of the enterprise shall be taken as a basis if according to the circumstances such continuation is deemed highly likely (sec. 19 (2) Insolvency Code). In general insolvency law the creditors are authorised to file for insolvency of the debtor if he is illiquid or overindebted (sec. 14). The managing directors are obligated (sec. 15a) in case of an illiquidity or an overindebtedness and additional authorised (sec. 15) in case of an imminent illiquidity. In banking law only the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority is authorised to file for insolvency in name of the credit institution (sec. 46b (1) s. 4 Banking Act). The credit institution and the creditors are not authorised to file for insolvency. Files of creditors or directors of the credit institution are undue. Instead the directors of the credit institution are obliged to notice an illiquidity, an imminent illiquidity or an overindebtedness to the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority is authorised but not obliged to file for insolvency. The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority has to decide according to one's best judgement if it file or not. In case of an imminent illiquidity the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority is only allowed to file for insolvency if the credit institution confirms and measures according to sec. 46 or sec. 46a Banking Act are not promising. Moment at which the Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS) is triggered. The Deposit Guarantee Scheme take action if a credit institution is not able to repay deposits or to fulfil security liabilities (sec. 5 (1) s. 1 Deposit Guarantee and Investor Compensation Act) or measures according to sec. 46a (1) s. 1 Banking Act are persisting longer than six weeks (sec. 5 (1) s. 2 Deposit Guarantee and Investor Compensation Act). 1.2. Are the following criteria used in order to determine the moments you have described: The credit institution possesses adequate resources for it to be able to continue activities. The credit institution maintains adequate suitability for it to be able to continue activities The credit institution does not comply anymore with the solvency ratio The credit institution is facing liquidity difficulties 2) Pre-insolvency and early intervention system 5 - Pre-insolvency and early intervention system 2.1 Pre-insolvency/early intervention systems tailored for banks Are there, in your national legislation, special pre-insolvency/early intervention systems that are tailored for banks? Yes, they are regulated by sec. 45, 46 and 46a Banking Act. 2.2 Pre-insolvency/early intervention systems that can be applied to banks If it is not the case, is there in your legislation, any pre-insolvency/early intervention system that can be applied to banks 2.3 Conditions and features Please explain briefly the systems currently available in your Member states. sec. 45 Measures in cases of inadequate own funds or inadequate liquidity In case of inadequate own funds or inadequate liquidity the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) is allowed to request the credit institution to restore the required capital resources and liquidity within a defined period. If the credit institution then will not restore the required own funds and liquidity within the period the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority is allowed to - prohibit transfers from reserves and profit distributions, prohibit lending in terms of sec. 19 cl. 1 Banking Act and order measures for reduction of risks. sec. 46 Measures in cases of danger If the discharge of an institution's obligations to its creditors, and especially the safety of the assets entrusted to it, is endangered or if there are grounds for suspecting that effective supervision of the institution is not possible, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority may take temporary measures to avert the danger. In particular, it may - issue instructions on the management of the institution's business, prohibit the taking of deposits or funds or securities of customers and the granting of loans (section 19 (1)), prohibit proprietors and managers from carrying out their activities, or limit such activities, and appoint supervisors. sec. 46a Measures in cases of danger of insolvency; appointment of persons authorised to represent the institution If the conditions specified in sec. 46 (1) s. 1 obtain, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority may, to avert insolvency proceedings, temporarily - issue a ban on sales and payments by the institution, 6 - - Pre-insolvency and early intervention system order the institution to be closed for business with customers, and prohibit the acceptance of payments not intended for the discharge of debts to the institution, unless the appropriate deposit guarantee scheme or investor compensation scheme undertakes to satisfy in full all those entitled to satisfaction. Can it be commenced on a voluntary basis and/or does it have to be ordered by the authorities? The credit institution is free to initiate measures within the general provisions of the banking law unless the management is restricted by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. The sec. 45, 46 and 46a Banking Act contain only regulatory law and rights for the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. What are the legal and economic conditions that must be met for these regimes to be prompted and applied? See above. Is a judicial decision which states that the legal and economic conditions are met necessary? No. 2.4 Powers and responsibilities of the intervening authorities For the execution of these measures, what are the powers of (i.e appointment of a negotiator in charge of finding solutions to the difficulties faced; organization of the negotiations with the main creditors of the bank; shares freeze; capital increase in derogatory conditions; forced transfer of the subsidiary; transfer of assets enabling the isolation of the risky activities; stay of actions (full or partial) of payment actions; rescheduling of the main debts due for payment) See above. The credit institution is free to initiate measures within the general provisions of the banking law unless the management is restricted by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. The sec. 45, 46 and 46a Banking Act contain only regulatory law and rights for the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. Beyond this there are no other regulations for reorganisation of companies before filing for insolvency. Only the insolvency proceeding contains regulations for the reorganisation of companies. For the execution of these measures (or the lack of decision to set these measures), what are the responsibilities of: the nominated practitioner the nominated administrator the national bank See above. 7 - Pre-insolvency and early intervention system 2.5 Confidentiality Which measures are confidential and which measures must be made public? Basically the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority is obliged to act confidential. But due to the fact that several imaginable measures could have an effect on the rights of the customer, the customers will hear about this measures. In insolvency proceeding the creditors (customers too) have to be informed by the insolvency administrator (sec. 46f (3) Banking Act). Furthermore according to sec. 46d (1) Banking Act (realisation of art. 4 of the Directive 2001/24/EC) the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority will acquaint the authorities of the other member states if possible before it is adopted or otherwise immediately hereafter. If the measures according to sec. 46 and 46a (1) Banking Act could effect the rights of third parties in a host Member state and where an appeal may be bought in the home Member State against the decision ordering the measure according to sec. 46d (2) Banking Act (realisation of art. 6 of the Directive 2001/24/EC) they have to be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities and at least in two national newspapers in each host Member State. 2.6 Powers and responsibilities of the intervening authorities Can the intervening authorities reduce the rights of the stakeholders (creditors, shareholders, deposit holders)? Is there in your legislation a judicial control of those measures? Please explain. How are handled the rights of the following stakeholders in the execution of this kind of measures? According to sec. 46a (1) Banking Act the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority is authorised to issue a ban on sales and payments by the institution or order the institution to be closed for business with customers. In contrast a restriction of the rights of individual consumers is not possible. On principle the decisions of the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority may be reviewed by a court. The decisions of the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority are administrative acts (Verwaltungsakt) and could be challenged with the so called “Anfechtungsklage”. Additional answer according to the email of DBB of June 29th 2009: According to sec. 5 (1) Deposit Guarantee and Investor Compensation Act the DGS is only trigged if the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) states that a case of compensation is given. This requires that a credit institution is not able to repay deposits or to fulfil security liabilities or that measures according to sec. 46a (1) s. 1 no. 1 till 3 Banking Act are persisting longer than six weeks. You were asking if the intervening authorities can reduce the rights of the stakeholders (creditors, shareholders, deposit holders). According to sec. 46a (1) s. 1 Banking Act the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority is authorised to issue 8 - Pre-insolvency and early intervention system a ban on sales and payments by the institution (no. 1) or order the institution to be closed for business with customers (no. 2). The rights of the shareholders are not directly affected by such measures. Of cause, there might be an indirect impact. E.g. if the institution is forbidden to make any payments, also dividends cannot be paid out. However, the rights of the creditors to enforce their claims can be affected by forbearance to the institution to make any payments. Additionally you were asking whether DGS is triggered. This is not the case. The measures according to sec. 46a (1) s. 1 Banking Act do not necessarily trigger the DGS. Possibly your further question is based on the wording of sec. 46a (1) s. 1 no. 3 Banking Act, where the DGS is mentioned. Sec. 46a (1) s. 1 no. 3 Banking Act reduces the rights of the credit institution, not the rights of stakeholders (creditors, shareholders, deposit holders). According to sec. 46a (1) s. 1 no. 3 Banking Act the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority is authorised to prohibit the acceptance of payments which are not intended for the discharge of debts to the institution, unless the appropriate deposit guarantee scheme or investor compensation scheme undertakes to satisfy in full all those entitled to satisfaction. In other words: If the BaFin intervenes according to sec. 46a (1) no. 3 Banking Act, the DGS cannot be triggered. Can intervention decisions override shareholder’s rights in the scope of these measures? Yes, they can. According to sec. 46 (1) Banking Act the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority is authorised to - issue instructions on the management of the institution's business, prohibit proprietors and managers from carrying out their activities, or limit such activities, and appoint supervisors. Furthermore decisions on the distribution of profits shall be invalid insofar as they contradict any of this orders. In this respect a intervention decision can override shareholder’s rights. 2.7 Relation with the formal insolvency proceedings What is the relation of pre-insolvency/early intervention systems with formal insolvency legislation? How do they interact? There is no relation. The formal insolvency proceeding presumes a petition. In the insolvency proceeding the insolvency administrator control the company. The regulations of Banking Act are regulatory law. In case of an insolvency the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority will continue her function as authority and so the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority will continue to take measures according to sec. 45 and 46 Banking Act. 9 - Pre-insolvency and early intervention system The only speciality is, that only the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority is authorised to file for insolvency, therefore a insolvency proceeding against the decision of the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority is not possible. Is there in your legislation any special effect of the pre-insolvency/early intervention measures on special contracts (set off, netting for example)? No. Is there in your legislation any specific financing system for banks under preinsolvency/early intervention? No, except for the special regulations for overcoming the actual banking crisis. As you are no doubt aware the German government supports the banks with guarantee, loans and capital. Can the deposit guarantee scheme be used to finance the pre-insolvency measures? No, this is not the mission of the deposit guarantee scheme. The deposit guarantee scheme secures the capital of consumers not the credit institution. 2.8 Group aspect and Cross-border situations In a national context (when both the parent company and the subsidiaries are located in your Member state), do the pre-insolvency measures apply to the subsidiaries? According to sec. 10a Banking Act the adequacy of the own funds of a banking group has to be calculated overall. So if the own funds of the group are inadequate, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority will initiate measures against the parent company (sec. 45 (2) Banking Act). Measures against subsidiaries are only possible if the subsidiaries fail itself the required own funds. All other measures can only be released against the credit institution which achieves the terms of the regulations (sec. 45, 46 and 46a Banking Act). Do the systems you have described above apply to cross-border situations (on which legal basis, i.e territoriality or universal principles)? How would a cross border case be managed in the following cases: - When the ailing bank in your Member state is the subsidiary of a parent company located in another Member state? The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority is not authorised to release an administrative act against foreign companies, but the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority is authorised to release administrative acts against the home company with effect for the foreign branches of the home company (see art. 3 (2) of the Directive 2001/24/EG). - When the ailing bank in your Member state is the parent company of one or several subsidiary located in another Member state? 10 - Pre-insolvency and early intervention system See above. - When the ailing bank in your Member state is the subsidiary of a parent company located in a third country? See above. - When the ailing bank in your Member state is the parent company of one or several subsidiary located in a third country? See above. Is there in your legislation state a specific pre-insolvency/early intervention created for cross border situations (please consider both subsidiaries and branches separately) There isn’t a specific system for cross-border situations. But according to sec. 46d (1) Banking Act (this realise art. 4 of the Directive 2001/24/EC) the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority will acquaint the authorities of the other member states if possible before it is adopted or otherwise immediately hereafter. And if the measures according to sec. 46 and 46a (1) Banking Act could effect the rights of third parties in a host Member state and where an appeal may be bought in the home Member State against the decision ordering the measure according to sec. 46d (2) Banking Act (art. 6 of the Directive 2001/24/EC) they have to be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities and at least in two national newspapers in each host Member State. How does (or would) your national legislation deal with the cross-border aspects (are there situations where the Law of another Member state is applied) in the case of subsidiaries, not branches? German Law doesn’t know a regulation for a insolvency of a group. The insolvency law regulates only the insolvency of each company. Pursuant no legislation for cross border aspects in the case of subsidiaries exists. How does your court deal with a conflict with another Member states’ Law: when there is a divergence between both Laws, can an agreement be concluded under the control of your national judge? This depends on the subject of the proceedings. In German Law the parties of the proceeding can (anyway after emergence of the litigation) make a deal which court should be appropriate. 2.9 Efficiency of those proceedings Do you think the measures you have described above provide for optimal response in order to deal with problems in an ailing cross-border bank (please explain)? There is no demand for a regulation of cross-border situation. Once again, the Banking Act only contains regulatory law. A cross-border operating credit 11 - Formal reorganization measures and winding up rules institution is free to initiate measures with cross-border effects as long as they comply with the regulatory frameworks of the involved states. There is no demand for an intervention of the German authority against foreign companies and no demand for an intervention of foreign authorities to German companies. Are there changes recently adopted or being discussed in your legislation? Currently a regulation for a “group insolvency” is being discussed. 3) Formal reorganization measures and winding up rules 3.1 General question Can you briefly explain what types of insolvency systems currently apply in your Member states (please briefly explain the differences if there are several)? The following introduction is based on an official text of the ministry of justice of North Rhine-Westphalia: Opening proceedings Insolvency proceedings can only be opened if a request is filed at the court which is competent for the debtor' s place of business. Further an insolvency reason is necessary. The Insolvency Statute in general admits two insolvency reasons: the illiquidity, i.e. the inability to pay the due obligations and the overindebtedness, which requires that the assets of the debtor do not cover his obligations. The overindebtedness is only an insolvency reason for legal entities and not for natural persons. The request can either be filed by the debtor or a creditor. If it is based on the insolvency reason of imminent illiquidity only the debtor has the right to file a request. During the period until the opening decision the court has to take all necessary measures to prevent any detrimental changes of the debtor' s assets. Section 21 of the Insolvency Statute offers a catalogue of such measures. In particular the court can impose a general prohibition of transfers against the debtor. Any execution against the debtor can be either forbidden or stayed. And above all the court can appoint a temporary administrator. The rights and duties of such a temporary administrator differ depending on whether the court has imposed a general prohibition of transfers against the debtor or not. If it has done so the temporary administrator has the full right to manage and to transfer the debtor' s assets (so-called “strong” temporary administrator). This means that he can take possession of the debtor' s assets, continue the debtor' s business and – within certain limits – sell the debtor' s goods and collect the claims the debtor has against others. 12 - Formal reorganization measures and winding up rules If the court appoints a temporary administrator without imposing a prohibition of transfers against the debtor, the court itself can determine the single duties and rights of the temporary administrator (so-called “weak” temporary administrator). But they cannot reach as far as in the case of a prohibition of transfers. If an insolvency reason exists the insolvency proceedings have to be opened if the assets of the debtor cover the costs of the proceedings. The „costs of the proceedings“ include only the court fees, the remuneration and expenses of the temporary administrator, of the final administrator and of the members of the creditors´ committee. The other costs of the insolvency administration do not belong any more to the „costs of the proceedings“. Therefore they do not have to be covered by the debtor' s assets as a precondition of the opening of the proceedings. The opened (regular) insolvency proceedings If insolvency proceedings are opened the court will appoint an administrator and determine the date of the first meeting of creditors, the so-called „report meeting“, in which the creditors have to decide about the further development of the proceedings. Simultaneously with the opening of the proceedings the debtor looses the right to manage and transfer his assets. This right passes over to the administrator. The right to manage and transfer the assets concerns the bankruptcy estate. At that time it only consisted of the estate which was owned by the debtor at the time of the opening of the proceedings. Under the Insolvency Statute the acquisitions which are made by the debtor during the proceedings are also part of the bankruptcy estate. When the proceedings are opened the creditors can file their claims with the administrator. The law knows three groups of claims/obligations: - the estate obligations, the normal insolvency claims and lower-ranking claims. „Estate obligations“ are - the costs of the proceedings, those obligations created by activities of the administrator or the temporary administrator to whom the debtor' s right to transfer was vested, obligations under mutual contracts, if their performance either is claimed by the administrator or has to take place after the opening of the proceedings and obligations due to unjust enrichment of the estate. The estate claims have to be fully satisfied before anything can be paid on insolvency claims. If the estate is not sufficient to fully satisfy all of them - which is usually the case - an equal percentage will be paid on each claim. Lower-ranking claims are - the interest accruing on the insolvency claims from the opening of the proceedings, costs incurred by creditors due to their participation in the proceedings, fines and similar claims, claims to the debtor' s gratuitous perfomance and 13 - - Formal reorganization measures and winding up rules certain claims of partners of insolvent companies. The highest organ of the insolvency proceedings is the meeting of creditors. During their first meeting the creditors can for example replace the court appointed administrator and elect another one. All other essential decisions concerning the proceedings are either made by the meeting of creditors or by the creditors´ committee. The meeting of creditors particularly decides whether the debtor' s enterprise shall be closed or continued. The administrator has to ask for the consent of the creditors´ committee or – if no committee is appointed – for the consent of the meeting of the creditors concerning all transactions which are of particular importance. This of course includes the decision whether an enterprise shall be sold or not. The task of the creditors´ committee is to support and to monitor the administrator. It can be established by the court before the first meeting of creditors. Later the meeting of creditors will decide whether the committee shall be maintained, changed in its composition or established, if no committee was established by the court. The claims of the creditors have to be filed with the administrator. He has to enter them in an insolvency schedule. During the so-called verification meeting the amount and the rank of the filed claims are verified. If there are no denials of the administrator or any creditor the claims are deemed to have been determined. Denials and determinations are entered into the insolvency schedule. Concerning the determined claims the entry in the table has – concerning amount and rank - the same effect as a final judgement with respect to the administrator and the creditors. Has a claim been denied by the administrator or a creditor it is up to the creditor of the denied claim to initiate proceedings to determine such claim against the denying party. After the verification meeting the distribution can start. It follows a distribution record which is established by the administrator. As soon as the distribution of the debtor' s assets is carried out, the court decides on the termination of the insolvency proceedings. The insolvency plan proceedings The autonomous mastering of the insolvency by the creditors and the debtor is not subject to separate proceedings but part of uniform insolvency proceedings. Within these proceedings it is one of several courses which can be followed on the search for the best opportunity to satisfy the creditors´ claims. This uniform system is different from other insolvency laws like for example the U.S. Bankruptcy Code which demands a decision between the liquidation proceedings of Chapter 7 and the plan proceedings of Chapter 11. Nevertheless there are also many similarities between the insolvency plan proceedings of the German Insolvency Statute and the provisions of Chapter 11. The law does not define the purpose of the insolvency plan. The parties are allowed to diverge from the provisions of the Insolvency Statute and to find a different solution. Therefore the insolvency plan can even provide a liquidation although it was introduced mainly to preserve, to rehabilitate and to reorganize the enterprise of the debtor. An insolvency plan can be set up and submitted to the court only by the debtor or the administrator. The plan has to consist of a declaratory and a constructive part. In the declaratory part the rehabilitation concept is described. The constructive part determines the impacts of the rehabilitation on the single rights 14 - Formal reorganization measures and winding up rules and claims of the creditors. One of the most important principles of the insolvency plan is that the creditors are divided into groups. The creditor groups can be treated differently by the plan if a justifying reason exists. The plan for example can form different groups for secured creditors, for normal insolvency creditors, for those creditors whose claims rank behind the claims of the normal insolvency creditors and for the employees. The number of groups is not limited. It is up to the fantasy of the person who is setting up the plan. The only demand is that there has to be a justifying reason if two creditors are put into two different groups. The insolvency plan needs the consent of the creditors. It has to be presented to them in a meeting during which the plan is discussed. At the end of that meeting the creditors decide on the adoption of the plan. They vote by groups. The plan is adopted if in each group the majority of the voting creditors backs the plan and if the sum of the claims of the creditors backing the plan exceeds half of the sum of all claims of the voting creditors. There is however a prohibition of obstruction, which shall prevent that an economically sensible plan fails because of the opposition of a single or a few creditors: If in one group the majority is not achieved that group is deemed to have consented if the creditors of that group are not treated worse by the plan than they would be without the plan. Moreover the majority of the groups must have backed the plan. The debtor has to back the plan, too. He is deemed to have consented if he has not opposed the plan until the voting of the creditors. If he is not treated worse than he would be without the plan his opposition to the plan is irrelevant. Finally the plan has to be confirmed by the court. After the decision of the court has got legally binding, the plan gets effective, the insolvency proceedings are terminated and the debtor recovers the power to transfer his assets. The constructive part of the insolvency plan may provide for surveillance of implementation of the plan by the administrator. The self administration proceedings Furthermore there is an other alternative insolvency proceeding. The concept of self administration (comparable to US Chapter 11 Debtor in Possession) means that the insolvent company’s management deals with the conduct of the insolvency proceedings. The company is both advised and supervised by a trustee who is empowered with certain administrator rights, such as the right to challenge transactions. 3.2 Definition and scope of reorganization measures What do “reorganization measures” mean in practice in your Member state? (in general and for banks especially)? In case of inadequate own funds or inadequate liquidity the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority is allowed to request the credit institution to restore the required capital resources and liquidity within a defined period. If the credit institution then will not restore the required own funds and liquidity within the period the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority is allowed to - prohibit transfers from reserves and profit distributions, prohibit lending in terms of sec. 19 cl. 1 Banking Act and order measures for reduction of risks. 15 - Formal reorganization measures and winding up rules If the discharge of an institution's obligations to its creditors, and especially the safety of the assets entrusted to it, is endangered or if there are grounds for suspecting that effective supervision of the institution is not possible, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority may take temporary measures to avert the danger. In particular, it may - issue instructions on the management of the institution's business, prohibit the taking of deposits or funds or securities of customers and the granting of loans (section 19 (1)), prohibit proprietors and managers from carrying out their activities, or limit such activities, and appoint supervisors. Additional the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority may, to avert insolvency proceedings, temporarily - issue a ban on sales and payments by the institution, order the institution to be closed for business with customers, and prohibit the acceptance of payments not intended for the discharge of debts to the institution, unless the appropriate deposit guarantee scheme or investor compensation scheme undertakes to satisfy in full all those entitled to satisfaction. Additional answer according to the email of DBB of June 29th 2009: We pointed out the difficulty of a differentiation between “reorganisation measures" and “pre-insolvency/early intervention measures” in the first text-box of item 1.1 on page 4: “Please note firstly that reorganization measures in terms of the Directive 2001/24/EC and in terms of the German Law are not only reorganization measures in an insolvency proceeding as you assume in your introduction on the page before. Reorganisation measure in terms of the Directive and German law can also take place before an insolvency proceeding. Considering this a differentiation between pre-insolvency/early intervention measures and reorganization measures seems to be very difficult. The most parts of sec. 46 and 46a Banking Act belong to the reorganization measures regulated in the Directive but sec. 46 and 46a Banking Act also includes regulations which not belong to this. Measures regulated in German Law which are not comprehended by the Directive 2001/24/EC are amongst others the measures in case of inadequate own funds or inadequate liquidity according to sec. 45 Banking Act.” Corresponding to this we laid down the application of the same regulations (sec. 45, 46, and 46a Banking Act) under the heading “pre-insolvency/early intervention measures” and also under “reorganisation measures". Now you question why we outlined the same measures as well under “preinsolvency/early intervention measures” and “reorganisation measures". Furthermore, you are asking if you shall consider that in Germany no reorganization measures for banks exist. According to Art. 2 of Directive 2001/24/EC “reorganisation measures" shall mean measures which are intended to preserve or restore the financial situation of a credit institution and which could affect third parties' pre-existing rights, including measures involving the possibility of a suspension of payments, 16 - Formal reorganization measures and winding up rules suspension of enforcement measures or reduction of claims and "winding-up proceedings" shall mean collective proceedings opened and monitored by the administrative or judicial authorities of a Member State with the aim of realising assets under the supervision of those authorities, including where the proceedings are terminated by a composition or other, similar measure. As you defined on page 1 of the National Report Part II “pre-insolvency/early intervention” shall mean any intervention except and before reorganization measures and winding-up proceedings. For German law this definition of “pre-insolvency/early intervention” is not practicable. A time-based delimitation (“before”) is not possible, because Art. 2 of Directive 2001/24/EC defines “reorganisation measures" as types of measures and not as an event which requires special measures. Also a delimitation to “pre-insolvency/early intervention” by coverage (“except”) is not feasible, because the definition of Art. 2 of Directive 2001/24/EC of “reorganisation measures" is very comprehensive. To make it more clear: The BaFin is entitled to enforce measures before the starting of an insolvency proceeding. Theses are reorganisation measures according to 2001/24/EC. Such measures may also be imposed after the application for insolvency by BaFin on the assets of a credit institution or after the opening of an insolvency proceeding on the assets of a credit institution. Thus, the BaFin measures are not linked to the Insolvency Act. On the other hand, the German law provides for measures which are laid down in the Insolvency Act which can be imposed by the insolvency court during the preinsolvency proceeding. However, such measures are not linked to the business of the debtor. Thus, such restrictions also apply for credit institutions. Furthermore, there are restrictions under the Insolvency Code after the opening of the procedure. Also such limitations derise of the generally applicable law. In Germany there does not exist a special procedure before the application for insolvency. However, BaFin will normally impose measures at that stage to prevent the insolvency of a credit institution. What are the conditions for commencing reorganization measures (for banks especially)? See above (item 1.1). Who can initiate a reorganization measures (in general and for banks especially)? We described this above. The measures according to sec. 45, 46 and 46a Banking Act can only be initiated by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. Of course the management of the credit institution can initiate own measures (within the usually regulations). Are banks treated specifically in insolvency legislation (are there specific rules for either reorganization measures or winding up proceeding)? We described this above. See in particular sec. 46b Banking Act. 17 - Formal reorganization measures and winding up rules 3.3 Relations between reorganization measures and winding up Are the triggering events defined by laws for both reorganization and winding up measures or it is up to the courts to decide? Explain Reorganization measures are regulated in sec. 45, 46 and 46a Banking Act. Winding up measures are regulated in the Insolvency Code. Both we described above and both (in principle) are independent. 3.4 Power and authorities of the authorities intervening Regarding reorganization and winding up, what are the powers of (for the commencement and the management of this kind of measures): We described the possible measures. Before an insolvency proceeding is opened only the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority is authorised to order measures. Of course the management of the credit institution can initiate reorganisation measures too. Pursuant the insolvency administrator manage the business in case of an insolvency proceeding. For the execution of these measures (or the lack of decision to set these measures), what are the responsibilities: See above. 3.5 Group treatment The purpose of this paragraph is to determine if group of companies are treated in your Member state at an entity level or in a coordinated way (by the legislation or case law, in internal or cross border situations, for banks specifically or other companies). For the purpose of this paragraph, please consider that a group is constituted by a parent company and subsidiaries, not branches. -Is there any legislation or court practise that specifically apply to a group? As we described each company has his own insolvency proceeding, so each company will be wound up separately. Reorganisation measures or early interventions against a group on the whole are not possible. Measures according to sec. 45 (2) Banking Act could address the superordinated company, but it couldn’t address to subsidiaries which are healthy. -Is there any special legislation or court practise that specifically apply to a banking group? Yes we described above. The Banking Act contains regulations for banking groups (see in particular sec. 10a, 10c, 45 (2) Banking Act). 18 - Formal reorganization measures and winding up rules What is the definition of the “group” that can be treated in a coordinated or joint way? According to sec. 10a (1) Banking Act a group of institutions consists of a superordinated company domiciled in Germany and at least one subordinated company. Is it possible to include solvent subsidiaries in the formal insolvency proceedings? The insolvency proceeding only can be opened for each insolvent company (equal if superordinated or subordinated). It doesn’t exist an insolvency proceeding for a whole group. Could you explain if the following measures are available in your Member state (please consider both purely internal situations and if a close notion exists in your Member state, please explain): Joint application See above. The insolvency proceeding only can be opened for each insolvent company (equal if superordinated or subordinated). It doesn’t exist an insolvency proceeding for a whole group. Therefore a joint application is not possible. Joint administrator It is not possible to appoint a joint administrator, but it is possible to appoint the same administrator in each insolvency proceeding of the companies of one group as long as the creditors' meeting of each company does not elect an other administrator. Joint or coordinated proceeding See above. Cooperation of insolvency administrators See above. Joint reorganization plan See above. Consolidation or pooling of assets See above. No consolidation or pooling of assets will be possible in an insolvency proceeding because every administrator of each company is obliged to handle trustful with the insolvency estate. Extension of liability Liability of whom? A extension of the liability is not possible without the acceptance of the liable person or company. Contribution orders See above. 19 - Formal reorganization measures and winding up rules Full/partial liability of majority owner/mother Except for the legal liability of a controlling company a liability is not possible without the acceptance of the liable person or company. Other practises that are in favour of group treatment Nothing to add. Additional answer according to the email of DBB of June 29th 2009: On item 3.5 you asked if German banking law knows an extension of liability as measure in an insolvency proceeding. Now you ask additional if German banking law knows a liability of the parent company in case of acting as a de facto managing director. Indeed German law knows a liability of a de facto managing director in general. A person or a company which acts as a de facto managing director is liable on the equal premises as an ordinary managing director. But this liability is neither a speciality of insolvency proceeding, nor a speciality of banking law. Furthermore, the parent company is liable if it harms the existence of the subisidiary in a way which is generally detrimental to its existence. 3.6 Cross border situations In a national context (when both the parent company and the subsidiaries are located in your Member state), do the reorganization and winding up proceedings apply to the subsidiaries? No, see above. Do the systems you have described above apply to cross-border situations (on which legal basis, i.e territoriality or universal principles)? How would a cross border case be managed in the following cases: - When the ailing bank in your Member state is the subsidiary of a parent company located in another Member state? See above. - When the ailing bank in your Member state is the parent company of one or several subsidiary located in another Member state? See above. - When the ailing bank in your Member state is the subsidiary of a parent company located in a third country? See above. 20 - - Formal reorganization measures and winding up rules When the ailing bank in your Member state is the parent company of one or several subsidiary located in a third country? See above. Are there in your legislation specific reorganization/winding up proceedings created for cross border situations (please consider both subsidiaries and branches separately) See above. How does (or would) your national legislation deal with the cross-border aspects (are there situations where the Law of another Member state is applied) in the case of subsidiaries, not branches? See above. How does your court deal with a conflict with another Member states’ Law: when there is a divergence between both Laws, can an agreement be concluded under the control of your national judge? See above. Is there any legal basis for cross border cooperation in reorganization measures or winding up proceedings at group level? Could you explain precisely which authorities actually cooperate under this legal basis and how? See above. Could you explain if the following measures are available in your Member state (please consider only cross-border situations, and if a close notion exists in your Member state, please explain): See above. 3.7 Efficiency of those proceedings Do you think the measures you have described above provide for optimal response in order to deal with problems in an ailing cross-border bank regarding: - The interest of the entity concerned? Firstly this is a very political and economical question which should answered by the concerned stakeholders. So we only can try to answer this question generalised. Remembering the free-market economy it is fundamental that each 21 - Recent cases company (equal if a credit institution) have to act autonomous. The sovereign should not intervene if it is not necessary for the interest of the general public. In the first instance the management has to decide if and how to reorganise the credit institution. At this juncture the management has to participate the shareholder meeting if necessary. Insofar the interests of the entity concerned and her shareholders rank first. Not until the credit institution violates the regulations of own funds and liquidity or risks according to sec. 46, 46a Banking Act occur the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority will act. The measures regulated in the Banking Act conduce to covering the banking system and the credit institutions in detail. Finally the measures conduce to creditors and deposit holders and each covering of a credit institution also covers the jobs of the employees. Modifications would improve the status of some involved stakeholders and concurrent impair the status of other involved stakeholders. The actual system is balanced out; so we can not say the system should be modified. - The interests of its creditors? See above. - The interests of the deposit holders? See above. - The interest of shareholders See above. - The interest of the employees See above. Do you think these measures can efficiently solve financial difficulties faced by a bank? See above. Are there changes recently adopted or being discussed in your legislation? No. 4) Recent cases 22 - Recent cases 4.1 Recent cases - pre-insolvency/early intervention measures Have you had any recent cases of pre-insolvency/early intervention measures applied to a credit institution (standalone, parent, subsidiary or branch) in your country? - Please provide examples of institutions which experienced difficulties or failures over the past 4 years in your country that required the implementation of pre-insolvency/early intervention measures? Kindly excuse, because of the obligation of secrecy as lawyer we are not allowed to answer question to precise cases. - Did these credit institutions have branches in other member states? See before. - Did these credit institutions have subsidiaries in other member states? See before. - Briefly explain the case(s), the procedures followed, the results, the participating authorities, sources of financing See before. - Explain how the cross border elements were taken into consideration (cooperation of authorities, administrators etc) See before. - Explain how and by which organisation decisions were made about the appropriate measures to implement. See before. - Explain how decisions were made (and by whom) on whether to implement the pre-insolvency/early intervention measures the credit institution. See before. 23 - - Recent cases Are there things that you would have wanted to do, as part of pre-insolvency/early intervention that you were not able to do under the current legal framework? If so, what? See before. 4.2 Recent cases – Reorganization and winding-up Have you had any recent cases of winding-up of a credit institution (standalone, parent, subsidiary or branch) in your country? - Which institutions had difficulties or failures over the past 4 years in your country that required the implementation of reorganization and winding-up? Kindly excuse, because of the obligation of secrecy as lawyer we are not allowed to answer question to precise cases. - Did these credit institutions have branches in other member states? See before. - Did these credit institutions have subsidiaries in other member states? See before. - Briefly explain the case(s), the procedures followed, the results, the participating authorities and the sources of financing See before. - Explain how the cross border elements were taken into consideration (cooperation of authorities, administrators etc) See before. - Explain how and by which organisation decisions were made about the appropriate measures to implement. See before. 24 - - Recent cases Explain how decisions were made (and by whom) on whether to reorganise or wind up the credit institution. See before. 4.3 Contact What are the main actors (banks, liquidators, law firms,...) in your country involved in reorganization measures and/or winding-up proceedings of credit institutions: - Please send us contact details of people/firms who already have applied the provisions of the Winding-up Directive or who might apply the Directive in the future if a credit institution fails in your country. Kindly excuse, because of the obligation of secrecy as lawyer we are not allowed to answer question to precise cases. - Please also send us contacts details of associations of liquidators (if any) dealing with reorganization measures and/or winding up proceedings in the financial sector. See before. 25 - Recent cases Annex A - The relevant legal texts and cases in English Insolvency Code Sec. 17 - Illiquidity (1) Illiquidity shall be the general reason to open insolvency proceedings. (2) The debtor shall be deemed illiquid if he is unable to meet his mature obligations to pay. Illiquidity shall be presumed as a rule if the debtor has stopped payments. sec. 18 - Imminent Illiquidity (1) If the debtor requests the opening of insolvency proceedings imminent illiquidity shall also be a reason to open. (2) The debtor shall be deemed to be faced with imminent illiquidity if he is likely to be unable to meet his existing obligations to pay on the date of their maturity. (3) If in the case of a corporation, or of a company without legal personality, the request is not filed by all members of the board of directors, all general partners or all liquidators, subs. 1 shall only apply if the person or persons filing the request are empowered to represent the company or the partnership. sec. 19 - Overindebtedness (as amended until autumn 2008 wish is valid again from 2011) (1) Overindebtedness shall be also a reason to open insolvency proceedings for a corporation. (2) Overindebtedness shall exist if the assets owned by the debtor no longer cover his existing obligations to pay. In the assessment of the debtor's assets, however, the continuation of the enterprise shall be taken as a basis if according to the circumstances such continuation is deemed highly likely. (3) If none of the general partners of a company without legal personality is an individual, subs. 1 and 2 shall apply mutatis mutandis. This shall not apply if the general partners include another company with an individual as general partner. Banking Act sec. 45 - Measures in cases of inadequate own funds or inadequate liquidity (1) If, at any institution, the own funds fail to satisfy the requirements of section 10 (1), or the investment of its funds fails to satisfy the requirements of section 11 (1), the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority may 1. prohibit or limit withdrawals by the proprietors or partners and the distribution of profits 2. prohibit or limit the granting of loans in terms of section 19 (1)) and 26 - Recent cases 3. instruct the institution to take measures to decrease the risks as far as these result from certain kinds of business and products or using of certain systems. (2) Subsection (1) numbers 1 and 3 shall apply as appropriate to superordinate enterprises in terms of section 10a (1) to (5) and institutions in terms of section 10a (14) if the consolidated own funds of the enterprises belonging to the group are not up to the mark according to section 10 (1). In such cases the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority furthermore may reduce the large exposure limits according to section 13 (3) sentence 5 and 13a (3) sentence 3 and (4) sentence 5 which apply with the proviso of section 13b to the group of institutions or the financial holding group. (3) If the own funds of a financial conglomerate are not up to the marks of section 10b (1) the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority may 1. take measures according to subsection (1) against a superordinated financial conglomerate enterprise in terms of section 10b (3) sentence 6 to 8 or (4) which operates in the bank and share service industry; 2. take the required and adequate measures against a mixed financial holding enterprise; in particular she may prohibit or limit withdrawals by the proprietors or partners and the distribution of profits. (4) The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority may issue the orders specified in subsection (1) to (3) only if the institution or the mixed financial holding enterprise has failed to remedy the deficiency within a period set by the Authority. Decisions on the distribution of profits shall be invalid insofar as they contradict an order issued pursuant to subsection (1) to (3). sec. 46 - Measures in cases of danger (1) If the discharge of an institution's obligations to its creditors, and especially the safety of the assets entrusted to it, is endangered or if there are grounds for suspecting that effective supervision of the institution is not possible (section 33 (3) numbers 1 to 3), the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority may take temporary measures to avert the danger. In particular, it may 1. issue instructions on the management of the institution's business, 2. prohibit the taking of deposits or funds or securities of customers and the granting of loans (section 19 (1)), 3. prohibit proprietors and managers from carrying out their activities, or limit such activities, and 4. appoint supervisors. Decisions on the distribution of profits shall be invalid insofar as they contradict any order issued pursuant to sentences 1 and 2. In the case of institutions organised in a form other than that of a sole proprietorship, managers who have been prohibited from carrying out their activities shall be barred from managing and representing the institution for the duration of the prohibition. Regarding the claims arising from the employment contract or from other provisions governing the activities of the manager, the general regulations shall apply. Rights permitting a manager to participate as a partner or in other ways in decisions on measures affecting the management of the institution may not be exercised for the duration of the prohibition. 27 - (2) Recent cases If managers have been prohibited from carrying out their activities pursuant to subsection (1) sentence 2 number 3, the court having jurisdiction at the domicile of the institution shall, at the request of the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, appoint the necessary persons authorised to manage the institution's business and to represent it if, owing to the prohibition, the institution no longer has the requisite number of persons authorised to manage its business and represent it. Section 46a (2) sentences 2 and 3, (3) sentence 1 and (4) to (7) applies as appropriate. sec. 46a - Measures in cases of a danger of insolvency; appointment of persons authorised to represent the institution (1) If the conditions specified in section 46 (1) sentence 1 obtain, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority may, to avert insolvency proceedings, temporarily 1. issue a ban on sales and payments by the institution, 2. order the institution to be closed for business with customers, and 3. prohibit the acceptance of payments not intended for the discharge of debts to the institution, unless the appropriate deposit guarantee scheme or investor compensation scheme undertakes to satisfy in full all those entitled to satisfaction. The deposit guarantee scheme or investor compensation scheme may make its commitment subject to the condition that incoming payments not intended for the discharge of debts to the institution are held and administered, in favour of the scheme, separately from the institution's assets in existence at the time of the issuing of the ban on sales and payments pursuant to sentence 1 number 1. After the issuing of the ban on sales and payments pursuant to sentence 1 number 1, the institution may complete the transactions in progress at the time of the issuing of the ban and enter into new transactions insofar as these are necessary for completing the former transactions, provided that and insofar as the appropriate deposit guarantee scheme or investor compensation scheme supplies the funds required for the purpose or undertakes to compensate the institution for any diminution in its assets resulting from these transactions as a whole, insofar as such compensation is needed for the full satisfaction of all creditors. Moreover, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority may authorise exceptions to the ban on sales and payments pursuant to sentence 1 number 1 insofar as this is necessary for the administration of the institution. Judicial enforcements on, seizures of and temporary injunctions against the assets of the institution shall not be permissible for the duration of measures pursuant to sentence 1. The provisions of the Insolvency Code (Insolvenzordnung) relating to the protection of payment and securities transfer and settlement systems and of collateral security of central banks shall apply as appropriate. (2) If, in the case of institutions organised in a form other than that of a sole proprietorship, measures pursuant to subsection (1) sentence 1 have been ordered, and if managers have been prohibited from carrying out their activities, the court having jurisdiction at the domicile of the institution, at the request of the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, shall appoint the necessary persons authorised to manage the institution's business and to represent it if, owing to the prohibition, the institution no longer has the requisite number of persons authorised to manage its business and represent it. In the case of institutions entered in a public register, the appointment or dismissal by the court of persons authorised to represent 28 - Recent cases the institution, the scope of their representational authority and the termination of their tenure of office shall be recorded officially. For the duration of the conditions specified in sentence 1, the persons or governing bodies entitled to do so under other legislation may not exercise their right to appoint persons authorised to manage the institution's business and to represent it. (3) The representational authority of a person appointed by the court shall be determined by the representational authority of the manager in whose stead this person has been appointed. This person's authority to manage the institution's business – unless it is extended by the appropriate governing bodies of the institution – shall be limited to the execution of the measures necessary to avert insolvency proceedings and protect creditors. (4) The person authorised to manage the institution's business and to represent it whom the court has appointed shall be entitled to the reimbursement of reasonable cash expenses and to remuneration for his activities. The court having jurisdiction at the domicile of the institution shall determine such expenses and remuneration at the request of the person authorised to manage the institution's business and to represent it whom the court has appointed. No further appeal shall be permissible. The final and absolute judicial decision results in judicial enforcement pursuant to the Code of Civil Procedure. (5) For the duration of measures pursuant to subsection (1) sentence 1, a person authorised to manage the institution's business and to represent it whom the court has appointed may be dismissed only by the court, at the request of the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority or of the institution's governing body responsible for the debarment of partners from the management and representation of the institution or for the dismissal of persons authorised to manage the institution's business or to represent it, and only if there is good reason for doing so. (6) The tenure of office of a person authorised to manage the institution's business and to represent it whom the court has appointed shall expire in any event if the measures pursuant to subsection (1) sentence 1 and the order prohibiting the manager in whose stead the person was appointed from carrying out his activities are revoked. If only the measures pursuant to subsection (1) sentence 1 are revoked, the tenure of office of a person authorised to manage the institution's business and to represent it whom the court has appointed shall expire as soon as the persons or governing bodies entitled to do so under other legislation have appointed a person authorised to manage the institution's business and to represent it, and as soon as a licence has been granted to this person, if necessary, pursuant to section 32. (7) Subsections (2) to (6) shall not apply to public-law legal persons. sec. 46b - Insolvency petition (1) If an institution becomes insolvent or overindebted, the managers and, in the case of an institution organised in the form of a sole proprietorship, the proprietor shall report this fact without delay to the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. Insofar as these persons are required under other legislation to file a petition for the initiation of insolvency proceedings in the event of insolvency or overindebtedness, the reporting requirement pursuant to sentence 1 shall replace the requirement to file such a petition. Insolvency proceedings over an institution's assets shall be initiated in the event of insolvency or overindebtedness .The petition for the initiation of 29 - Recent cases insolvency proceedings over the institution's assets may be filed by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority only. The court order to initiate insolvency proceedings shall be specially communicated to the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. (2) If insolvency proceedings are initiated in respect of an institution which is a participant in a system within the meaning of section 24b (1), the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority shall without delay notify the agencies whose names have been communicated by the other states of the European Economic Area to the Commission of the European Communities. Sentence 1 shall apply as appropriate to system operators within the meaning of section 24b (5). sec. 47 - Moratorium, suspension of banking and stock market business (1) If there is reason to fear that credit institutions may encounter financial difficulties which are likely to pose grave dangers to the national economy, and particularly to the proper functioning of the general payments system, the Federal Government may by way of a regulation 1. grant a credit institution an extension of time to discharge its obligations, and order that judicial enforcements, seizures and temporary injunctions against the credit institution, as well as the initiation of insolvency proceedings over the credit institution's assets, are impermissible for the duration of the extension; 2. order that credit institutions be temporarily closed for business with customers and that they may neither make nor accept payments and credit transfers connected with such business; it may limit this order to certain types or categories of credit institutions and to particular types of banking business; 3. order that stock exchanges within the meaning of the German Stock Exchange Act (Börsengesetz) be temporarily closed. (2) Before taking measures pursuant to subsection (1) the Federal Government shall consult the Deutsche Bundesbank. (3) If the Federal Government takes measures pursuant to subsection (1), it shall specify by way of a regulation the legal consequences of these measures for prescribed periods and deadlines in the fields of civil law, commercial law, company law, bill of exchange law, cheque law and procedural law. Liquidity Regulation sec. 1 - Scope of application (1) The present Regulation shall be applied to 1. credit institutions and 2. financial services institutions which a) trade for their own account or b) which are authorised as investment brokers, contract brokers or portfolio managers to obtain the ownership or possession of money or securities of customers or to trade in financial instruments for their own account. Only section 9 shall be applicable to e-money institutions. 30 Recent cases - (2) This Regulation shall not apply to branches within the meaning of section 53b (1) sentence 1 of the Banking Act if 1. the foreign supervisory authority responsible and the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (hereinafter: BaFin) have reached agreement on the mutual recognition of liquidity rules, 2. the branch is management, wholly integrated in the central office’s liquidity 3. the central office has declared in writing to BaFin that the branch’s liquidity is assured at all times, and 4. BaFin has confirmed in writing that the conditions pursuant to Nos 1 to 3 are given. sec. 2 - Adequate liquidity (1) The liquidity of an institution shall be deemed to be adequate if the liquidity ratio to be calculated does not fall below the value of one. The liquidity ratio denotes the ratio between the liquid assets available in the first maturity band and the liabilities callable during this period. Liquid assets and liabilities are to be assigned to one of the following maturity bands: due 1. on demand or up to one month (maturity band 1), 2. over one month and up to three months (maturity band 2), 3. over three months up to six months (maturity band 3), 4. over six months up to twelve months (maturity band 4). (2) The institution shall calculate observation ratios which give the ratio between the respective liquid assets and the liabilities in the individual maturity bands referred to in (1) sentence 3 Nos 2 to 4 . The observation ratios are calculated in the same way as the liquidity ratio pursuant to (1) sentence 2. If the liquid assets in one maturity band exceed the callable liabilities, the difference shall be recognised as additional liquid assets in the calculation of the observation ratio in the next-higher maturity band. sec. 3 - Liquid assets (1) Subject to (3), the following shall be slotted into maturity band 1 as liquid assets: 1. cash, 2. balances with central banks, 3. paper for collection, 4. irrevocable lending commitments received by the institution from another credit institution or the Reconstruction Loan Corporation (Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau,KfW), 5. securities which are not treated as fixed assets and are admitted for trading on a regulated market as defined in Article 4 (1) No 14 of Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on markets in financial instruments, amending Directives 85/611/EEC and 93/6/EEC of the Council and Directive 2000/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Directive 93/22/EEC of the Council (OJ EU L 145 p 1), last amended by Directive 31 - Recent cases 2006/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 206 (OJ EU L 114 p 60) in a country of the European Economic Area or on a stock exchange pursuant to section 1 (3e) of the Banking Act (listed securities), including paper transferred to the institution as a transferee or borrower under repurchase or lending agreements, 6. those assets recognised by the European Central Bank or the central bank of a country the unsecured liabilities of which would receive a Credit Risk Standardised Approach (CRSA) weighting of 0 per cent pursuant to section 26 Nos 1 or 2 of the Solvency Regulation (Solvabilitätsverordnung, SolvV) in the relevant listing as collateral eligible for refinancing; the credit institution must have a branch in the country of domicile of the central bank if that central bank does not belong to the European System of Central Banks; included are also those assets transferred to the institution as a transferee or borrower under repurchase or lending agreements, where these have not already been recorded pursuant to No 5 (for zero-rated central banks, assets eligible for refinancing), 7. collateralised debt securities not treated as fixed assets within the meaning of section 20a of the Banking Act, including collateralised debt securities transferred to the institution as a transferee or borrower under repurchase or lending agreements, and 8. shares, not treated as fixed assets, in the amount of 90 per cent of the respective repurchase prices in the following funds: Directive-compliant funds pursuant to sections 46 to 65 of the Investment Act (Investmentgesetz); special funds pursuant to sections 91 to 95 of the Investment Act, the contractual terms of which provide for investment principles and limits corresponding to those of Directive-compliant funds pursuant to sections 46 to 65 of the Investment Act; and EU investment units pursuant to section 2 (10) of the Investment Act, provided that the repurchase and settlement arrangements for units in foreign funds are the same as for units in the abovementioned domestic funds. (2) The following liquid assets are to be recorded in maturity bands 1 to 4 according to their residual maturities but subject to section 3: 1. loans and advances to central banks 2. loans and advances to credit institutions, 3. loans and advances to customers, 4. bills of exchange eligible for refinancing with central banks which do not already fall under Nos 2 or 3, 5. asset claims of the lending institution to the return of the securities lent, 6. debt securities other than those included under (1) and other fixedinterest securities including fixed-interest securities transferred to the institution as a transferee or borrower under repurchase or lending agreements, 7. asset claims of the transferor to the retransfer of securities under genuine sale and repurchase agreements, 8. money claims of the transferee arising from sales with an option to repurchase in the amount to be repaid, provided that the current market value of the securities transferred is lower than the agreed amount to be repaid, and 9. equalisation claims on the public sector (especially Currency Conversion Equalisation Fund) including debt securities arising from their exchange 32 - Recent cases where they are not included in (1) No 5, provided that the respective residual maturities on the reporting date do not exceed one year. (3) The following are not liquid assets within the meaning of (1) and (2): 1. loans and bills of exchange for which individual value adjustments have been made, provided that they are currently impaired, 2. participating interests and shares in affiliated companies, 3. repurchased own-debt securities which fail to meet the provisions of section 20a of the Banking Act, 4. securities transferred under repurchase or lending agreements, for the duration of the agreement on the part of the transferor or lender, 5. securities pledged as collateral and not available to the institution for the period they constitute collateral, unless they are pledged to a central bank of the European System of Central Banks, and 6. investment units other than listed in (1) No 8, where they are not included in (1) No 5 as liquid assets. sec. 4 - Liabilities (1) The following are to be recorded in maturity band 1 as liabilities: 1. 40 per cent of the liabilities to credit institutions due on demand, 2. 10 per cent of the liabilities to customers due on demand, 3. 10 per cent of savings deposits within the meaning of section 21 (4) of the Bank Accounting Regulation, 4. 5 per cent of the contingent liabilities from rediscounted bills, 5. 5 per cent of the contingent liabilities from guarantees and indemnity agreements 6. 5 per cent of the amount of liability from the pledging of collateral for third-party liabilities, 7. 20 per cent of placement and underwriting commitments and 8. 20 per cent of undrawn, irrevocable lending commitments, other than those to be included as provided in (2) No 12 or (3). (2) The following liabilities are to be recorded in maturity bands 1 to 4 according to their residual maturities: 1. liabilities to a central bank 2. liabilities to credit institutions, unless they constitute liabilities to be included in number 3, 3. 20 per cent of the liabilities of the central institutions of the savings banks and credit cooperative sectors to their regional institutions and of those regional institutions to their affiliated savings banks and credit cooperatives, 4. liabilities to customers, unless they constitute liabilities to be included in number 12, 5. asset liabilities, ie obligations of the borrowing institution to return borrowed securities, 6. asset liabilities, ie liabilities of the transferee resulting from the obligation to return securities under repurchase agreements, 33 - Recent cases 7. money liabilities of the transferor arising from sales with an option to repurchase, provided that the current market value of the securities transferred is lower than the agreed amount to be repaid, 8. securitised liabilities, 9. subordinated liabilities, 10. capital represented by participation rights 11. other liabilities and 12. 20 per cent of the undrawn eligible liquidity facilities within the meaning of section 230 (2) of the Solvency Regulation which cannot be terminated unconditionally at any time without notice if a drawing between the refinancing dates for the securitisation transaction is ruled out. if the respective residual maturities on the reporting date do not exceed one year. (3) Irrevocable lending commitments for investment loans and loans secured by mortgages, to be disbursed in line with the progress of construction, which are expected to be used during the 12 months following the reporting date are to be recorded as follows: 1. 12 per cent in maturity band 1, 2. 16 per cent in maturity band 2, 3. 24 per cent in maturity band 3, and 4. 48 per cent in maturity band 4. sec. 5 - Securities repurchase and lending agreements (1) Securities transferred under genuine sale and repurchase agreements shall be deemed to be part of the portfolio of the transferee, who must include a resulting asset liability obligation to return the securities. The transferee shall recognise a money claim on the transferor in the amount of the agreed repayment. The transferor shall, instead of the securities, record an asset claim to the return of the securities. It shall include a money liability in the amount of the agreed repurchase price to the transferee. (2) Securities acquired by the transferee under sales with an option to repurchase shall be deducted from the portfolio of the transferor, who shall recognise instead the money received from the transferee. The transferee shall, instead of the money paid, count the securities towards its holding. If the market price of the transferred securities is below the amount of the agreed repurchase price, 1. the securities transferred shall be counted towards the holding of the transferor, who shall recognise a money liability to the transferee in the amount of the agreed repurchase price, and 2. a money claim on the transferor in the amount of the agreed repurchase price shall be included by the transferee, who shall deduct the securities from its holding. (3) Securities transferred under lending agreements shall be deducted from the holding of the lender and counted towards the portfolio of the borrower. The borrower shall recognise an asset liability obligation to return the securities, the counterpart of which is an asset claim of the lender in the same amount. 34 - Recent cases sec. 6 - Basis of assessment (1) Below is the respective basis of assessment for the various items: 1. for liquid assets pursuant to section 3 (1) Nos 5 and 7: the respective marked-to-market prices of the underlying securities. 2. for liquid assets pursuant to section 3 (1) No 6: the figures for the underlying assets as derived using the relevant valuation principles by the central bank concerned less the central bank’s haircut. 3. for liquid assets within the meaning of section 3 (1) No 8: the repurchase prices, 4. for liquid assets pursuant to section 3 (2) No 8 and liabilities pursuant to section 4 (2) Nos 7 to 9: the repayment amounts, 5. for securities items and securities-related asset claims and liabilities under repurchase and lending agreements: the respective market prices of the securities marked to market, 6. for other liquid assets and liabilities: the respective book values. Market prices are the official prices on a given reporting date or, if unavailable, the market prices established by the institution. If the securities are officially listed on several markets, an institution shall use market prices according to a method set internally by that institution; the method is to be uniform and permanent and documented. The institution is to document, and submit to BaFin upon request, its derivation of market prices for the most recent reporting date, the reporting dates of the last 24 months and for the current reporting period. Except for liquid assets pursuant to sentence 1 No 2 , debt securities and other fixed-interest securities in the portfolio may be reported at 90 per cent of their book value, and listed shares and other variable-rate securities in the portfolio at 80 per cent of their book value, unless the institution uses the mark-tomarket method. Country risk value adjustments, general value adjustments and individual value adjustments shall be deducted from the book values of the asset items unless they prevent the asset items referred to in section 3 (3) 1 from being recognised. (2) If an institution is not able for technical reporting reasons to deduct value adjustments from the asset items concerned it may use a simplified procedure to deduct the value adjustments. In this procedure, and in line with the proportion of recognisable liquidity items in the total of all assets for which the value adjustments are made, the value adjustments set up are to be deducted from the liquid assets 1. in maturity band 1 (standardised procedure) or 2. in all maturity bands (alternative procedure) If an institution decides to use the alternative procedure, it shall include when deducting the value adjustments the maturity structure underlying the liquid assets. Value adjustments to specific assets which make claims and bills ineligible for recognition may be left out of the calculation. Institutions which intend to use the simplified procedure must notify BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank before using it for the first time. The notification is to state the value adjustments for which the procedure is to be used and what assets are to be included. BaFin can prohibit use of the simplified procedure if there is justified reason to believe that the liquidityrestricting effects resulting from value adjustments would not be adequately replicated. 35 - (3) Recent cases Section 5 of the Solvency Regulation applies mutatis mutandis for converting forexdenominated asset and liability items. sec. 7 - Residual maturities The residual maturity is deemed to be 1. the period of time between the respective reporting date and the due date of the respective liquid assets and liabilities, subject to Nos 2 to 6, 2. for uncalled deposits at notice: the respective period of notice plus a noncalling period, 3. for assets and liabilities to be redeemed in regular instalments, regardless of whether the partial amounts contain interest or not: the period between the respective reporting date and the maturity date of the partial amount, 4. for asset claims from genuine securities repurchase agreements and lending transactions within the meaning of section 3 (1) and the resulting liabilities and securities items of the transferor arising from sales with an option to repurchase: the residual duration of the agreement, 5. for asset claims arising from genuine repurchase and lending agreements involving securities other than those under No 4, and for consequent asset liabilities and transferor securities items arising from sales with an option to repurchase: the residual duration of the transaction plus the residual maturities of the securities at the end of the transaction, and 6. for money claims and liabilities arising from genuine sales and repurchase agreements and sales with an option to repurchase: the residual transaction maturity. Early termination options shall be recognised for liabilities. However, they shall not be recognised for claims and securities in a holding. In the case of assets and liabilities which are redeemed in regular instalments, the amounts to be repaid shall be assigned to the relevant maturity bands up to the value of the respective instalments. Overnight money and call money shall not be considered to be due on demand. They are to be treated as time deposits for one day. sec. 8 - Rules specific to building and loan associations In derogation from sections 3 to 7, building and loan associations must count 10 per cent of the book value of the difference between deposits under “savings and loan” contracts and the loans under “savings and loan” contracts towards liabilities under section 4 (1) in maturity band 1. The liquid assets and liabilities arising from the noncollective business of building and loan associations shall be recognised pursuant to the provisions laid down in sections 3 to 7. sec. 9 - Investment limitations for electronic money institutions (1) E-money institutions shall invest funds in at least the amount of their liabilities arising from the as yet undrawn electronic money only in the following assets: 1. Cash and equivalent items, 2. Assets, the performance of which is owed or expressly guaranteed by a central government or central bank, provided that the Credit Risk Standardised Approach (CRSA) risk weighting for uncollateralised liabilities owed by that central government or central bank pursuant to 36 - Recent cases section 26 Nos 1 to 3 of the Solvency Regulation is no higher than 0 per cent, 3. Assets, the performance of which is owed or expressly guaranteed by the European Communities, 4. Assets, the performance of which is owed or expressly guaranteed by one of the counterparties named in section 25 (3) Nos 1 to 4 of the Solvency Regulation, 5. Assets which are demonstrably secured by collateral in the form of debt securities of a counterparty named in section 25 (3) Nos 1 to 4 of the Solvency Regulation, 6. Sight deposits at credit institutions, the owed unsecured liabilities of which receive a maximum CRSA risk weighting of 20 per cent pursuant to section 31 Nos 1 or 2 of the Solvency Regulation, and 7. High-quality securities under section 303 (3) sentence 2 of the Solvency Regulation, which are not included in Nos 2 to 5 and are not issued by companies which hold a significant interest pursuant to section 1 (9) of the German Banking Act in an e-money institution or which are to be included in the consolidated accounts of such companies. The assets named in sentence 1 are not to be assets named in sentence 1 Nos 2 to 5 and 7 The investments named in sentence 1 Nos 6 exceed 20 times the own funds of a given overshoot is to be notified immediately to Bundesbank. (2) rated as fixed assets. The must be sufficiently liquid. and 7 may not, in total, e-money institution. Any BaFin and The Deutsche If owing to the undrawn electronic money the value of the assets named in (1) fall short of the level of liabilities, the e-money institution shall be obligated to terminate the shortfall without delay. To that end, BaFin may temporarily permit the lower of the following figures to be covered by assets other than those specified in (1): 1. a maximum of 5 per cent of the liabilities deriving from electronic money as yet undrawn, or 2. own funds (3) E-money institutions shall submit reports to the Deutsche Bundesbank on the requirements under (1) as at the reporting date at the end of a calendar half-year using the form in annex 1; the submission is to be made by the 15th business day of the month following the reporting date. The report is to be submitted electronically. The Deutsche Bundesbank publishes on the internet the format to be used for electronic data submission and the submission procedure. 4It forwards reports to BaFin. sec. 10 procedures (1) Utilisation of internal liquidity risk and measurement To assess the adequacy of liquidity, the institution may, at its discretion on a permanent basis and with the assent of BaFin, use its own liquidity risk measurement and management procedure in place of sections 2 to 8, if the requirements under (3) have been met and if BaFin has confirmed in writing its suitability for the purposes of this regulation, upon application from the institution concerned. BaFin can make its assent contingent upon collateral clauses, especially conditions, and revoke assent already granted if the institution no longer meets the preconditions of (3). 37 - Recent cases (2) The suitability of an internal liquidity risk measurement and management procedure is assessed on the basis of an examination under section 44 (1) sentence 2 of the Banking Act conducted by BaFin in cooperation with the Deutsche Bundesbank; once the suitability has been officially confirmed, it is reviewed in follow-up examinations. Material changes to the liquidity risk measurement and management procedure shall necessitate renewed confirmation of suitability under (1). (3) The institution shall in particular meet the following requirements for the use of an internal liquidity risk measurement and management procedure: 1. The liquidity risk measurement and management procedure guarantees (while taking into account the situation specific to a given institution, the type and complexity of business and the size of the institution), adequate ongoing calculation and monitoring of the liquidity risk and describes the liquidity situation more incisively and appropriately than if sections 2 to 8 were applied. In particular, the liquidity risk measurement and managment procedure is to convey information about expected shortterm net outflows of funds, the possibility of unsecured borrowing and the effect of stress scenarios. The institution shall regularly review compliance with the requirements under sentence 1. 2. The institution has set limits (appropriate quantitative ceilings for liquidity risks, including those in stress scenarios) which it reviews at regular intervals; the limits shall have been set on the basis of the liquidity risk measurement and management procedure. To that end, the institution identifies ratios in its liquidity risk measurement procedure which are especially suited to providing an aggregate picture of the risk of insufficient liquidity; the institution documents what level these indicators must reach for it to deem itself exposed to tangible, medium and high risk of insufficient liquidity, and what measures are triggered when one of the ratios hits one of the specified risk levels. 3. The institution shall notify the Deutsche Bundesbank and BaFin immediately in writing if one of the ratios under No 2 exceeds the level for a medium or high risk of insufficient liquidity; it shall report on measures it has adopted, as well as those it intends to adopt, to avert the danger. The foregoing shall be without prejudice to reporting of the ratios pursuant to section 11 below. 4. The liquidity risk measurement and management procedure and the internal limit system are used for internal liquidity risk management and in the institution’s corporate governance. (4) An institution domiciled in Germany which is a subordinate enterprise in a group of institutions or a financial holding group, and which meets the provisions laid down in section 2a (1) Nos 1 to 5 of the Banking Act, or which is a parent company and meets the provisions laid down in section 2a (6) sentence 1 Nos 1 and 2 of the Banking Act may, at its discretion on a permanent basis and with the permission of BaFin, refrain from applying sections 2 to 8 if the group of institutions or financial holding group to which the institution belongs uses an internal liquidity risk measurement and management system and Bafin has confirmed the suitability of that system in writing. (1) to (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis. sec. 11 - Reporting of the ratios (1) Institutions shall submit reports to the Deutsche Bundesbank on the requirements under section 2 as at the reporting date at the end of a 38 - Recent cases month, using the forms in annexes 2 and 3; the submission is to to be made by the 15th business day of the month following the reporting date. Upon application from an institution, BaFin may approve an extension of the deadline. For guarantee banks and credit guarantee associations, sentence 1 applies with the proviso that the reports are to be submitted only twice a year on the status as at the reporting date at end-May and end-November, in each case by the 15th business day of the month following the reporting date. (2) If an institution exercises the option of using an internal liquidity risk measurement and management procedure pursuant to section 10, BaFin shall, in derogation from (1), define, on a case-by-case basis, the content and form of the monthly reporting requirements in its written confirmation of the suitability of the liquidity risk measurement and management procedure under section 10. (3) The reports pursuant to (1) and (2) are to be submitted electronically. The Deutsche Bundesbank publishes on the internet the format to be used for electronic data submission pursuant to (1) and the submission procedure. It forwards the reports to BaFin. Institutions shall keep the reports under annexes 2 and 3 for the current calendar year and the two preceding calendar years. 39
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