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Set-off (Banking & Finance) meaning

What does Set-off (Banking & Finance) mean?
In banking and finance, set-off is the practical netting of mutual monetary claims so that only the balance is payable: a party applies what it is owed to reduce what it owes, discharging reciprocal obligations to the extent of the smaller sum. It arises by operation of law and equity (legal and equitable set-off), by contract (contractual set-off), and mandatorily on insolvency (insolvency set-off under insolvency legislation). Case law defines the key tests. Core features include mutuality (same parties, same capacity) and, for legal set-off, that sums are due and payable; equitable set-off requires a close connection between claims. Contractual set-off can expand or limit rights (for example, cross-account or affiliate set-off), while “no set-off” clauses in loan agreements commonly prevent borrowers withholding payments. Banks frequently exercise set-off through the banker’s right to combine accounts. In derivatives and netting arrangements (e.g. ISDA close-out netting), set-off underpins calculation of a single net exposure. Application is broadly consistent across England & Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland the analogous doctrine is compensation, with similar effect. In Ireland, common law and statute recognise comparable principles. On insolvency, statutory set-off typically overrides contractual arrangements and fixes a single net balance.
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View the related News about Set-off (Banking & Finance)

NEWS
UK and EU financial services regulatory and enforcement round-up—authorisations, prudential, AML and sanctions, markets, EMIR, payments, open banking, crypto, FOS and FCA updates—14 August 2025

In this issue: Authorisation, approval and supervision Prudential requirements Risk management and controls Financial crime and sanctions Complaints, compensation and claims management Investigations, enforcement and discipline Regulation of capital markets Regulation of derivatives Banks and mutuals Consumer credit, mortgage and home finance Payment services and systems International—financial services and related sectors Fintech and cryptoassets LexTalk®Financial Services: a Lexis®Nexis community Financial Services Enforcement Database Daily and weekly news alerts Intraday news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Authorisation, approval and supervision HM Treasury issues a policy statement describing its intended approach to the regulation of Appointed Representatives within UK financial services. The paper suggests targeted adjustments to enhance oversight and bolster consumer protection, while preserving the regime’s function in fostering competition and innovation. See: LNB News 11/08/2025 28. The Financial Conduct Authority has updated its Conduct Rules webpage to clarify...

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NEWS
Banking and finance weekly: waiver by estoppel on guarantees, bond arbitration, UK SRS guidance, ESG trends, ICMA social bond reporting, ISDA DC reforms, EMIR 3.0 timing, ASX position reporting

In this issue: Lending Sustainable finance Debt capital markets Derivatives Regulation for derivatives lawyers Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Useful information Lending Email correspondence can give rise to waiver of facility agreement (Little v Olympian Homes Ltd) This matter concerned two bids to set aside statutory demands that arose from personal guarantees linked to a facility agreement. The principal sum was settled late, prompting the lender to issue statutory demands for default interest due under that agreement. The applicants maintained that the lender had surrendered its right to contractual interest via email correspondence (contractual waiver) or, in the alternative, through its conduct (waiver estoppel). The court made it plain that the applicants could not rely on any suggestion of an oral waiver of the facility agreement’s terms, because the agreement expressly stipulated that any contractual waiver must be in writing...

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NEWS
UK and EU sustainable finance and ESG weekly: HMT extends TCFD-aligned reporting consultation; FCA temporary SDR naming/marketing flexibility; ECB Elderson on nature-related risk and litigation

UK developments HMT extends consultation deadline on TCFD-aligned disclosure in annual reports HM Treasury (HMT) has postponed the cut-off for its consultation on the Phase 3 Exposure Draft concerning Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD)-aligned disclosure within annual reports. The consultation now ends on 26 September 2024. See: LNB News 10/09/2024 37. Source: TCFD-aligned disclosure Exposure Draft for Phase 3...

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View the related Practice Notes about Set-off (Banking & Finance)

PRACTICE NOTES
English law LMA investment grade facilities agreement: clause-by-clause drafting and negotiation guide, with risk-free rate/Term SOFR interest, multicurrency options, letters of credit, tax, transfer and enforcement

Loan Market Association investment grade facilities agreement This commentary draws on the Loan Market Association (LMA)’s recommended LMA Multicurrency Term and Revolving Facilities Agreement that incorporates Term SOFR (the LMA facilities agreement). The LMA provides various precedent loan agreements for investment‑grade deals, and single‑currency forms may suit a particular transaction better—the commentary can nonetheless be applied in that context. The provisions in the LMA facilities agreement, and in the LMA’s other precedent forms, are drafted on the basis of a series of assumptions. It is essential to recognise these, as amendments will usually be required where any assumption does not hold true. For further detail on those assumptions, see Practice Note: Loan Market Association investment grade documentation. That Practice Note also outlines the range of LMA‑recommended investment‑grade facility agreements and indicates the circumstances in which each is appropriate. In addition, the LMA publishes recommended form facility agreements for specialist transactions, including leveraged, real estate, trade and developing markets transactions. For more on these, please refer to our...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Margin Lending over Listed Shares: Structuring, LTV and Margining, Security and Custody, Equity-Style Protections, Enforcement and Regulatory/Disclosure Issues

Introduction to margin loans What is a margin loan? At a high level, a margin loan is credit extended to a borrower, secured by liquid assets pledged for the lender’s benefit. The collateral usually consists of instruments traded on public markets or exchanges, most commonly the borrower’s listed shares, which serve as the underlying assets. The outstanding balance under the margin loan facility is compared with the value of those assets through a loan to value test. Should the collateral’s value drop beneath an agreed threshold, a margin call arises, obliging the borrower to act—typically by adding cash or further security—to return the loan to value ratio to the agreed level. Because asset values are set by exchange-traded prices, the loan to value can fluctuate rapidly and is therefore usually checked daily at the close of trading on the relevant exchange, when prices are settled. This Practice Notice concentrates on margin loans secured over listed shares, though margin loans may alternatively be secured over other asset classes...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Priority of security interests: worked examples across fixed and floating charges, shares, receivables, land, tacking and registration under English law

Practice Note: Priority between security interests This Practice Note provides illustrations of how the rules on priority may operate in practice with reference to the relevant English law principles. It complements, and should be read alongside, our other Practice Notes on priority. New examples are added to this Practice Note on a regular basis. If you encounter a priority issue in practice that you would like us to cover, please use the LexisAsk function to inform us. Practice Note: Priority between security interests outlines the rules on priority from a more technical standpoint and should be consulted for the black letter law that supports the practical examples in this Practice Note. It is important to recognise that English law priority rules are complex and are widely acknowledged not to be clear in every respect. Outcomes can also be influenced by the parties’ actions, meaning law firms will often decline to provide an opinion on the priority of security and specialist advice may need to be obtained if there is...

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View the related Precedents about Set-off (Banking & Finance)

PRECEDENTS
Precedent Sterling term loan facility agreement (bilateral) for single corporate borrower, with optional security and/or parent guarantee (England and Wales)

This Agreement, dated [ • ] 20[ • ], is entered into between the following parties: Parties [ insert name of Borrower ], a company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number [ insert company number ], whose registered office is at [ insert address ] (the Borrower); and [ insert name of Lender ] of [ insert address ] (the Lender). Background (A) [ insert description of background to transaction ]. (B) The Lender has agreed to provide the Facility (as defined below) to the Borrower on the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement...

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PRECEDENTS
Precedent: bank account charge over blocked accounts (chargor-specific monies) for syndicated facilities (England and Wales)

This Deed is made on [ insert day and month ] 20[ insert year ] Parties [ Insert name of Chargor ], being a company incorporated in England and Wales, with registered number [ insert company number ], and whose registered office is at [ insert address ] (the “ Chargor ”); and 1 [ Insert name of Security Agent ], acting as security agent and trustee for the Finance Parties pursuant to the terms and conditions set out in the [ Facilities Agreement OR Intercreditor Agreement OR Security Trust Deed ] (the “ Security Agent ”). Recitals: (A) The Finance Parties have consented to provide loan facilities subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Facilities Agreement (as defined below). (B) As a condition precedent to the loan facilities becoming available, the Chargor must execute this Deed for the purpose of granting security in favour of the Security Agent in relation to the Secured Obligations (as defined below)...

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PRECEDENTS
Precedent deed: security assignment of insurance policies and proceeds to a security agent under a syndicated facilities agreement, with notice/acknowledgement and deed of accession (England and Wales)

This Deed is entered into on [ insert day and month ] 20[ insert year ], as of that date Parties [ insert name of Assignor ], a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number [ insert company number ], whose registered office is at [ insert address ] (the Assignor); and [ insert name of Security Agent ], acting as security agent and trustee for the Finance Parties pursuant to the terms and conditions contained in the [ [ Facilities Agreement ] OR [ Intercreditor Agreement ] OR [ Security Trust Deed ] ] (the Security Agent). Recitals: (A) The Finance Parties have consented to provide the loan facilities, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Facilities Agreement (as defined below). (B) A condition precedent to the availability of the loan facilities is that the Assignor enters into this Deed to provide security in favour of the Security Agent in respect of...

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