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Non-recourse loan meaning

What does Non-recourse loan mean?
A non-recourse loan is a facility where, on borrower default, the lender’s recovery is limited to the specified collateral and its proceeds. There is no recourse to the borrower’s general covenant or other assets, no unsecured deficiency claim after enforcement and no claim against group companies, unless expressly agreed. The term is not defined by statute; it is a descriptive expression used in finance documents across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Usage is broadly consistent, although the forms of security differ (for example, legal mortgage/fixed charge and, in Scotland, a standard security). Non-recourse lending is common in project finance, real estate finance and securitisation, typically with an SPV borrower. Documentation often includes limited-recourse or “bad boy” carve-outs that switch on recourse for specified misconduct or prohibited acts, often supported by targeted guarantees. Practically, the lender bears any shortfall if collateral is insufficient and therefore prices, conducts due diligence on, and monitors the secured assets and cash flows. Contrast with full-recourse loans, and with limited-recourse structures where recourse is capped by time, amount or sources of payment.
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View the related Checklists about Non-recourse loan

CHECKLISTS
Non-performing loans (NPLs): EU and UK supervisory, insolvency and secondary market developments timeline (2016–2023)

ARCHIVED: This Practice Note is archived and is no longer maintained. A bank loan is treated as a non-performing loan (NPL) if more than 90 days pass without the borrower making the agreed instalments or interest payments. Banks experienced an accumulation of NPLs in their books when borrowers' inability to repay was intensified by the financial crisis and subsequent recessions. When NPLs are proportionately high, banks' capacity to manage the riskiness of their lending is diminished. NPLs are a supervisory priority for the European Central Bank (ECB), which monitors the overall level of NPLs across euro area banks. Under the supervisory review and evaluation process (SREP), the ECB assesses whether individual banks adequately manage loan risk and whether they have suitable strategies, governance arrangements and processes in place. The ECB also regularly undertakes co-ordinated exercises to review the asset quality of the banks it directly supervises—it works with national supervisors to establish a consistent and effective approach to tackling and reducing bad loans, drawing on best practices as set...

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CHECKLISTS
UK corporate loans: direct and indirect tax checklist for bilateral and syndicated borrowing (interest relief, CIR, transfer pricing, hybrids, withholding tax, VAT, stamp duty, SDRT, FATCA and CRS)

Checklist This Checklist sets out the principal direct and indirect tax considerations that a corporate borrower within the scope of UK corporation tax (a UK corporate borrower) ought to assess both prior to entering into a loan and over the life of that loan... It is designed to be used as a Checklist by the tax adviser to a UK corporate borrower, offering a concise outline of the relevant tax matters and providing space for the adviser to record notes... This Checklist proceeds on the basis that: the borrower is a company within the charge to UK corporation tax in relation to the loan, that is, either a UK tax resident company or a non‑UK tax resident company for which the loan is attributable to its UK permanent establishment (a UK PE), or attributable to the non‑UK resident company’s trade of dealing in or developing UK land; and the borrower and the lender are unconnected parties dealing at arm’s length ...

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NEWS
UK tax highlights: Court of Appeal BlackRock transfer pricing/unallowable purpose; 1.5% stamp duty capital-raising exemption; VAT consideration; remittance; MTD ITSA penalties; pensions LTA abolition (11 April 2024)

In this issue: Companies and corporation tax Stamp taxes VAT Individuals and income tax Taxes management and litigation Employment taxes Budget and Finance Bills Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Useful information Companies and corporation tax Court of Appeal decides interest on intra-group loans not restricted under transfer pricing rules but debits disallowed under unallowable purpose rule (BlackRock Holdco 5, LLC v HMRC) BlackRock Holdco 5, LLC v HMRC [2024] EWCA Civ 330 considers whether, for UK tax purposes, interest on intra‑group borrowing put in place to help fund a commercial acquisition is deductible. Two principal points were before the Court of Appeal: the transfer pricing analysis and the loan relationships unallowable purpose question. On the transfer pricing limb, the Court of Appeal allowed the taxpayer’s appeal. As a result, deductions for interest on the intra‑group loans were not curtailed by the transfer...

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NEWS
Execution-only SIPP: Pensions Ombudsman upholds trustee’s due diligence; no liability for failed non-standard loan notes; minor delay in notifying default was maladministration but not compensable

Original news Mr Y (CAS-57893-P0C6)—20 August 2025 / Ms R (CAS-58612-P1X1)—18 July 2025 Summary The Pensions Ombudsman dismissed a complaint concerning a loan note investment. The scheme’s independent trustee bore no responsibility for losses arising from this high-risk, speculative asset. The complainants had completed forms confirming the trustee was not giving investment advice and could not be held accountable for any investment loss. The arrangement ran on an execution-only basis. The trustee also undertook appropriate due diligence before proceeding. In light of these factors, no liability ultimately attached to the trustee for the loan note loss. The determination highlights the perils of placing funds into non-standard investments. Accordingly, the complaint failed. What were the facts? Ms R and Mr Y were members of the Westerby Pension Scheme (the Scheme). The Scheme was a self-directed, self-invested personal pension (SIPP) scheme. Westerby Trustee Services Limited (Westerby) was the Scheme’s independent trustee and administrator...

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NEWS
UK Private Client weekly briefing: Court of Protection, tax and HMRC updates, digital assets and insolvency, contentious trusts, and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland developments—2 May 2024

In this issue: Court of Protection UK taxes for Private Client HMRC Manuals updates Family businesses and ownership structures Insolvency—Private Client Digital assets and cryptoassets Contentious trusts and estates Pensions, insurance and tax-efficient investments Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Question of the week Additional Private Client updates Daily and weekly news alerts LexTalk®Private Client: a Lexis®PSL community New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Latest Q&As Useful information Court of Protection Court of Protection proposes travel guidance for cases with a risk of future forced marriage (Luton Borough Council v G) The Court of Protection sanctioned a six-month interim forced marriage protection order (FMPO) concerning AG and exercised the inherent jurisdiction to govern AG’s contact with her parents. This followed material showing parental control and coercion, the prospect of AG travelling abroad for ‘a wedding’, and indications that, if parental contact matched her...

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View the related Practice Notes about Non-recourse loan

PRACTICE NOTES
Term Loan B facilities: structure, key documentation points, European differences from traditional senior loans, evolving covenants, transfer restrictions, and the implications of Kirschner v JP Morgan Chase

This Practice Note looks at Term Loan B (TLB) facilities, which often feature as a senior tranche within syndicated loans in leveraged financings. TLBs are long-established in the US market and are increasingly seen in the European lending market for institutional investors. It examines the structure of a typical TLB and how it diverges from traditional European leveraged loans, before setting out the key features. This Practice Note assumes some understanding of leveraged finance. For introductory information, see: Introductory guide to acquisition finance. For explanations of common terms, see Practice Note: Glossary of acquisition finance terms and jargon. What is a Term Loan B? In lending markets, ‘Term Loan B’ or ‘TLB’ (short for Term Loan Bullet) describes a tranche of senior secured credit facilities made available to a borrower and intended to be syndicated in the institutional loan market. They are usually floating-rate term facilities with an actual or implied non-investment grade rating, a five to seven year maturity and either nominal amortisation of 1% per annum...

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PRACTICE NOTES
New York cross-border lending and security: a guide for UK finance lawyers on market trends, UCC perfection, enforcement, intercreditor issues, and recognition of English law and judgments (Dec 2024)

Loan market and developments Please provide a succinct outline of the current condition of the loan markets in your jurisdiction and any noteworthy recent developments. The US corporate loan market remains a significant pillar of the US economy. While the US loan market has undergone considerable change in recent years, it is still resilient and continues to be one of the most inventive and consequential areas within the US capital markets. Two principal components of the US corporate loan space are broadly syndicated loans (BSL) and private credit transactions. The BSL segment is a key funding source for medium- and large-sized companies, comprising loans where multiple banks and non-bank financial institutions extend finance through a syndicate of lenders. Private credit typically involves lending by non-bank lenders on a bilateral basis or by a small cadre of lenders (often termed ‘club deals’). Both segments have seen strong growth and transformation over the past several years. Broadly Syndicated Loans Although private credit often captures more media focus, syndicated lending...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Subscription and shareholders’ agreements in venture capital deals: drafting guidance on conditions, warranties, governance, reserved matters and investor protections (England and Wales)

Subscription and shareholders’ agreement This Practice Note offers guidance for drafters preparing and/or reviewing a subscription and shareholders’ agreement relating to the allotment of shares (and, potentially, loan notes) in a private limited company incorporated in England and Wales by a private equity (or venture capital) fund investor (the investor) within a venture capital (VC) deal, where the structure provides for split exchange and completion, ie conditions must be met before completion of the subscription and shareholders’ agreement. The investment contemplated is into an existing company (the Company), with the current shareholders (typically the business’s founders) keeping the shares they have already been issued in the Company. Set out below are matters to weigh up when drafting and/or reviewing the principal provisions of a subscription and shareholders’ agreement (SSA). Parties The investee company Although the principal parties to the SSA will be the relevant investor and the Company’s founders, the Company will ordinarily be included as a party too, ie the vehicle in which the investor...

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PRECEDENTS
Precedent deed poll: convertible redeemable loan note instrument for corporate investors (unsecured/subordinated), with conversion, redemption and noteholder provisions - England and Wales law

£ [ insert number ] [ insert rate ]% convertible [ subordinated ] redeemable loan notes 20[ insert year ] [ insert name of issuer ] Dated [ insert day and month ] 20[ insert year ] Parties [ Insert name of issuing company ], incorporated in England and Wales under number [ insert company number ], whose registered office is at [ insert address ] (the Issuer) Background The Issuer has determined to create up to a maximum nominal amount of £[ insert number ] [ insert rate ]% convertible [ subordinated ] redeemable loan notes, to be constituted as set out in this document...

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PRECEDENTS
Precedent buyer board minutes for exchange on private share purchase: approve SPA and ancillary documents, authority to sign, optional consideration shares/loan notes and listed-company circular (UK)

Board minutes—private M&A—share purchase—exchange—buyer Company no: [insert company number]. [insert company name] [Limited OR plc]. Board meeting at [insert place] on [insert date] at [insert time]. [insert name] chaired, confirmed due notice and quorum. Business: to consider and, if appropriate, approve documents and matters for the Company’s proposed purchase of the entire issued share capital of [insert target name] Limited from [insert seller name] [Limited OR PLC], subject to conditions, including any required shareholders’ approval. Directors declared interests per CA 2006 and the Articles; quorum and voting confirmed. Key documents tabled included the draft sale and purchase agreement, any loan note instrument, disclosure letter, stock transfer form(s), voting power of attorney, circular and proxy (if relevant), verification notes and responsibility documents, consents, irrevocable undertakings, announcement and ancillary papers. The board noted conditions precedent and long‑stop; consideration (cash, loan notes and/or consideration shares); warranties/indemnities with time limits, caps and thresholds, subject to disclosures; post‑completion non‑compete/non‑solicit; and key loan note terms (interest, redemption, guarantee/security, convertibility). RESOLVED...

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PRECEDENTS
Restructuring Support (Lock-Up and Standstill) Agreement with Interim Finance, Chief Restructuring Officer Appointment and Creditor/Director Releases

This Agreement is dated [ insert day and month ] 20[ insert year ] Parties The Consenting Lenders (as set out in Schedule 1); [ The Consenting Bondholders (as set out in Schedule 2); ] [ insert name of debtor company ], a company registered in [ insert country eg England and Wales ] with company number [ insert registered number ], whose registered office is at [ insert address ]; [ The Material Companies (as set out in Schedule 3); ] Recitals On [ insert date ], the directors of the Company announced a proposal to restructure the claims of certain creditors of the [ Company OR Group ] following a period of financial distress. On [ insert date ], the Company and certain creditors entered into a Standstill Agreement in connection with the proposed restructuring. [ On [ insert date ], the Company and certain creditors agreed non-binding heads of terms for the...

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