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Credit risk meaning

What does Credit risk mean?
The risk that a borrower, issuer or other obligor fails to perform payment obligations when due, causing loss to the lender, bondholder or counterparty. In practice, it assesses the likelihood and severity of default (creditworthiness and recovery), influenced by financial strength, security, guarantees, subordination, covenants, and sector or sovereign factors. It is a descriptive term used across banking, capital markets and derivatives rather than a term defined by general contract law; prudential regulation in the UK and Ireland (for example, PRA/FCA/CBI and CRR rules) applies technical measures of credit risk for capital adequacy. Government bonds of developed countries were once described as risk‑free; in practice, UK Gilts and Irish Government Bonds are treated as very low credit risk, but sovereign risk remains. Credit risk is commonly associated with corporate bonds, but also arises in loan agreements, trade credit, securitisations, and counterparty default risk in derivatives and repos. Legally and commercially, it drives pricing and disclosure (including prospectus risk factors), due diligence, representations, undertakings and events of default, and the need for security, guarantees, covenants or credit protection. Usage is broadly consistent across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland.
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View the related Checklists about Credit risk

CHECKLISTS
B2B goods delivery terms: practitioner checklist on place, time, passing of risk, quantity, instalments and remedies (England, Wales and Scotland)

Flowchart This Flowchart explains the requirements that must be met for the court to determine that a transaction constitutes an extortionate credit transaction and to provide relief. It should be reviewed alongside Practice Note: Extortionate credit transactions—corporate and personal insolvency...

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CHECKLISTS
ISDA documentation for loan hedging: checklist covering term sheet, negotiation, signing/completion, security/intercreditor terms, clearing, regulatory compliance (EMIR/UK EMIR/Dodd-Frank), tax, capacity, authorisations and cross-border issues

This checklist outlines the principal ISDA documentary points that should be considered during a financing transaction. Term sheet stage If acting for a borrower and specialist hedging advisers are engaged, obtain their input on the term sheet. If acting for a borrower, confirm the total pricing of the deal is clear (covering both the loan and the hedge). A borrower may pick a lender for a low loan margin, only to find that the swap credit spread from the same lender renders the overall economics less appealing than those from another lender. Are the loan and hedging set on an IBOR basis (eg EURIBOR) or on a risk free rate (eg SONIA or SOFR)? Does the lender require a zero floor in its loan? If acting for a borrower, ensure the borrower understands the consequences of any mismatch between this and the hedging documentation. ...

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CHECKLISTS
Transactions at an Undervalue and Preferences—Administrator/Liquidator Claims: Procedural Checklist and Timeline (England and Wales)

Checklist and timeline This concise checklist and timeline is prepared on the footing that proceedings are brought under sections 238 and/or 239 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986) by an administrator or liquidator, and not by any assignee of the claim. Step/action: Review the events leading to the company’s insolvency and the factors underpinning the claim(s) against the respondent(s) (typically the recipients of the relevant payments/transactions). This involves securing the company’s books and records, accounting data/statements and bank statements, and interviewing directors, former directors, and any person with knowledge of the promotion, formation, business dealings, affairs or property of the company. Note that if the office-holder signals a claim against the respondent(s), they risk losing investigative powers under IA 1986, ss 235–236 in relation to that claim. Time (days): No limit (subject to limitation). Section/rule: IA 1986, ss 234–236, 238, 239; Cloverbay Ltd (joint administrators) v Bank of Credit and Commerce International SA [1991] Ch 90, [1991] 1 All ER 894. ...

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NEWS
UK and EU Sustainable Finance Weekly—TPT extension, FCA SDR and anti‑greenwashing, EBA ESG risk survey, ECB climate programme, EU taxonomy practices, LMA guidance—1 February 2024

UK developments HMT extends Transition Plan Taskforce mandate The Transition Plan Taskforce (TPT) has confirmed that HM Treasury (HMT) has now prolonged its mandate until at least 31 July 2024, with a potential further three month extension to the very end of October 2024, to support the Transition Finance Market Review (TFMR), which was launched on 22 January 2024. See: LNB News 25/01/2024 44. Source: The TPT’s mandate has been extended. New one minute guide on the FCA’s Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) and Labelling Regime The LexisNexis Financial Services practical guidance team, working with knowledge counsel, Chris Ormond, and partner, Dr Andrew Henderson of Goodwin LLP, has released a new one minute guide that presents a concise summary of the key requirements of the UK Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) and labelling regime. See: The FCA’s Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) and Labelling Regime—one minute guide EU developments EBA surveys credit institutions on classification methodologies for ESG risks The European Banking Authority (EBA) is currently...

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NEWS
Insurance and Reinsurance Weekly Update: Ukraine war risks; COVID-19 business interruption; piracy general average; PII dishonesty; subrogation; motor premiums; PRA, IDD, Solvency II; key dates—18 January 2024

Insurance & Reinsurance weekly highlights—18 January 2024 In this issue: Ukraine conflict Coronavirus (COVID-19) Cases and decisions Types of insurance Market practice Regulation Solvency II New and updated content Case trackers Key dates Daily and weekly news alerts LexTalk®Insurance: a Lexis®Nexis community Ukraine conflict This week, Scottish practice Brodies LLP confirmed it had supported Ukraine’s Export Credit Agency on an innovative war risks insurance mechanism, extending protection to shipowners and charterers and enabling the nation to move cargo across the Black Sea amid ongoing hostilities with Russia. See News Analysis: Brodies steers war risk insurance for Ukrainian exports. The conflict in Ukraine has profoundly reshaped the aviation insurance sector. Claims on aviation policies have become a central battleground as lessors try to recoup losses for aircraft left in Russia (typically still held and operated by Russian carriers). Consequently, a wave of proceedings has been commenced before the English, US, and Irish...

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NEWS
Global insurance M&A at lowest since 2013 amid inflation, elections and conflicts; Middle East tensions boost political risk/trade credit demand and prompt Red Sea war cover withdrawals

Insurance M&A hits ten-year low amid political uncertainty The law firm reported that 346 insurance sector deals were completed worldwide in 2023, a decline from 449 recorded in the previous year. It was also the weakest tally seen since 2013, when 19 transactions were signed. Peter Hodgins, a partner at Clyde & Co LLP, noted that, for many insurers, it is increasingly difficult to secure finance for deals as companies across the globe wrestle with inflation...

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View the related Practice Notes about Credit risk

PRACTICE NOTES
UK financial services risk control: FCA SYSC and PRA Rulebook obligations, CRR and MIFIDPRU requirements, SMCR governance, and PRA private equity review, including post-October 2025 MiFID II organisational changes

This Practice Note considers the requirements and guidance on risk control (the risk control rules) relevant to firms, drawn from the Senior Management Arrangements, Systems and Controls sourcebook in the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Handbook (SYSC) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) Rulebook, and includes measures that will replace Commission Delegated Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2017/565 (the UK MiFID II Organisational Regulation) upon its revocation on 23 October 2025. Risk control rules applying to UK financial services firms The risk control rules applicable to firms are contained in: the overarching obligation to maintain effective risk control processes in SYSC 4.1.1R SYSC 7 Risk control SYSC 21 Risk control: guidance on governance arrangements Dual-regulated firms should also be mindful of parallel provisions in the following sections of the PRA Rulebook: Risk Control (which applies to CRR firms, as defined in the PRA Rulebook Glossary) Group Risk Systems (which applies to CRR firms) Credit Unions—11 General organisational requirements...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK Corporation Tax: Land Remediation Relief for Contaminated and Derelict Land—Eligibility, 150% Deductions, Tax Credits, Exclusions and 2024–2025 Policy Developments

What is land remediation relief? (LRR) LRR provides corporation tax relief on expenditure incurred in remediating contaminated land or in bringing derelict sites back into use. In 2009, the regime was broadened to address market failure by returning long-term derelict land to use, bringing such sites back into use. An incentive applies where land, whose development has been affected by various kinds of continuing dereliction, is brought back into productive use. The extension was intended to correct market failure by encouraging activity on sites blighted by ongoing dereliction. The relief was at risk of being discontinued after 2012; however, the 2012 Budget confirmed it would continue. The October 2024 HM Treasury Corporate Tax Roadmap, published alongside Autumn Budget 2024, notes the new Labour government’s commitment to a brownfield-first approach, prioritising the development of previously used land wherever possible. Given the time since the last review of LRR, and the potential for it to help progress the government’s objectives, the Roadmap announced that a consultation would be launched to...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Prudential supervision of climate-related financial risks in the UK: PRA/BoE expectations (SS3/19), implementation, governance, risk management, scenario analysis, disclosure and capital frameworks for banks and insurers

This Practice Note examines the Bank of England (BoE) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)’s supervisory expectations for banks and insurers in managing climate‑related financial risks, as articulated in supervisory statement SS3/19 (updated November 2024), alongside the related policy statement PS11/19. Background and introduction On 15 April 2019, the PRA issued PS11/19: Enhancing banks’ and insurers’ approaches to managing the financial risks from climate change, which summarised responses to consultation paper CP23/18 and included the final SS3/19 setting out the PRA’s expectations. The PRA observed that climate change, and society’s response to it, generate financial risks relevant to its objectives and, although such risks may fully emerge over longer horizons, they are already starting to be seen. SS3/19 set the expectation that firms take a strategic approach to climate‑related risk management, identifying present exposures and plausible future risks, and implementing suitable measures to mitigate them. A revised SS3/19, updated to reflect PS15/24—Review of Solvency II: Restatement of assimilated law, was published on 15 November 2024. The PRA’s...

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View the related Precedents about Credit risk

PRECEDENTS
Pro-supplier B2B terms and conditions for sale of goods and services (precedent), with compliance clauses, retention of title, indemnities and liability caps (England and Wales)

1 Definitions and interpretation 1.1 Within these Conditions, the terms below shall have the following meanings: Adequate Procedures – to be interpreted in accordance with BA 2010 and the guidance issued under it; Affiliate – any entity that, directly or indirectly, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, another entity; Applicable Law – all applicable laws, legislation, statutory instruments, regulations, and governmental guidance having binding effect, whether local or national [ or international in any relevant jurisdiction ]; Associated Person – means any or all of: (a) a party’s officers, employees, agents, subcontractors, subsidiaries, and persons Associated With that party (the Associates); and (b) persons Associated With any of the Associates, in each case engaged in performing services for or on behalf of that party, the Services and/or the Contract; Associated With – when used: (a) in clause 10 and in respect of bribery, shall be read in accordance with BA 2010 and the guidance published under it; (b)...

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PRECEDENTS
B2B supply of goods framework agreement (supplier‑favourable): optional exclusivity, minimum spend, retention of title, IPR indemnity and price variation (England and Wales law)

This Agreement is entered into on [ date ] Parties [ insert name of supplier ] [ of OR trading as [ insert trading name ] of OR a company incorporated in [ England and Wales ] under number [ insert registered number ] whose registered office is at ] [ insert address ] (the Supplier); [ insert name of customer ] [ of OR trading as [ insert trading name ] of OR a company incorporated in [ England and Wales ] under number [ insert registered number ] whose registered office is at ] [ insert address ] (the Customer), (each of the Supplier and the Customer being a party, and together the Supplier and the Customer constituting the parties) Background The Supplier carries on the business of supplying [ insert description ] to other businesses. The Customer carries on the business of [ insert description ]. The parties have agreed that the Supplier...

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PRECEDENTS
Supplier-Favourable Business-to-Business Sale of Goods Terms and Conditions (England and Wales)

1 Definitions and interpretation In these Conditions, key terms include: Adequate Procedures (as per BA 2010); Affiliate (entities under common Control); Applicable Law (binding laws and guidance across relevant jurisdictions); Associated Person/Associated With (as defined for bribery, tax evasion and fraud by BA 2010, CFA 2017 and ECCTA 2023); Business Day (excluding weekends and bank/public holidays); Conditions (these sale terms); Confidential Information (commercial, technical or other identified confidential material); Contract (the agreement comprising these Conditions and the Order); Control (as specified); Customer and Supplier (the purchasing and supplying parties); Documentation; Force Majeure (events beyond reasonable control); Goods; Intellectual Property Rights and any IPR Claim; Location; MSA 2015; Order; Prevention Procedures; Price; Specification; VAT; and Warranty Period. Interpretation rules: references to the Contract include its schedules and annexes; headings are for convenience; references to a party include successors and permitted assigns; person includes natural and corporate bodies; company covers any body corporate; gender and number include each other; “including” and similar expressions are illustrative only; writing covers legible, non‑transitory...

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