Documents & Guidelines

We endeavour to keep our documentation under constant review to ensure that it continues to meet the aims and needs of the primary and secondary loan markets.

Our documentation is produced after extensive consultation with leading loan practitioners and law firms so as to represent an agreed common view of documentation structures. Standardisation of the "boiler plate" areas of the documents allows lenders and borrowers to focus on the more important commercial aspects of individual transactions.

We are widely regarded as the body that establishes guidelines for the EMEA syndicated loan market. These are, by their nature, wide-ranging and relate to both primary and secondary markets.

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LMA updates exposure draft term SOFR documentation to recommended form (25 May 2023)

We are pleased to have published our exposure draft term SOFR documentation as recommended form. The related term SOFR commentary has also been updated.

The move to recommended form follows the increasing use in the market of the term SOFR provisions in the exposure drafts, market feedback received, the length of time since publication of the exposure drafts and the impending end-June 2023 deadline for US dollar LIBOR transition. 

In respect of fallbacks to term SOFR, the options presented remain suggestions only given some ongoing discussions in the market. However, market participants are reminded of recent regulatory statements, including from the Financial Stability Board, that contracts referencing term RFRs need to have robust fallbacks in place. Market participants are also reminded that cost of funds is only included in the recommended form term SOFR documentation as a potential option for an ultimate fallback. 

 

LMA publishes model provisions for sustainability-linked loans (4 May 2023)

We have published model provisions for sustainability-linked loans (SLLs). These model provisions look to provide a proposed form of draft SLL provisions for inserting into LMA loan documentation, which are aligned with our Sustainability-Linked Loan Principles and accompanying Guidance notes.

Put together by an experienced working party of financial institutions and law firms active in sustainable finance, these model provisions seek to reflect current market practice, and provide a vital tool to protect the integrity of the SLL market by providing a basic drafting framework to assist parties in the negotiation of the document.  The model provisions also include extensive drafting notes setting out points for parties to consider when undertaking a SLL transaction.

LMA publishes updated real estate finance intercreditor agreements (19 April 2023)

We have published updated versions of the LMA intercreditor agreement for real estate finance transactions, and the LMA intercreditor agreement for real estate finance transactions (contractual subordination only).

Amendments have been made to these documents to reflect the transition to risk-free rates as well as the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. 

Documents Index

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Guidance

Name of Document FormatsDate Revised Markup
Name of DocumentLMA Schuldschein Loan User GuideFormatsPDFDate Revised21/12/2018MarkupPDF

Loan Agreements

Name of Document FormatsDate Revised Markup
Name of DocumentLMA Schuldschein Loan Agreement (single borrower)FormatsWordDate Revised21/12/2018MarkupPDF
Name of DocumentLMA Schuldschein Loan Agreement (with guarantee)FormatsWordDate Revised21/12/2018MarkupPDF
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Guidance

Name of Document FormatsDate Revised Markup
Name of DocumentLMA Schuldscheindarlehensvertrag NutzerleitfadenFormatsPDFDate Revised21/12/2018MarkupPDF

Loan Agreements

Name of Document FormatsDate Revised Markup
Name of DocumentLMA SchuldscheindarlehensvertragFormatsWordDate Revised21/12/2018MarkupPDF
Name of DocumentLMA Schuldscheindarlehensvertrag (mit Garantie) FormatsWordDate Revised21/12/2018MarkupPDF
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Name of Document FormatsDate Revised Markup
Name of DocumentDrafting Guide for Use in Relation to the Incorporation of Provisions Relating to the Use of Compounded Risk-Free Reference Rates into LMA DocumentationFormatsPDFDate Revised28/05/2021MarkupPDF

NOTE: There are documents on this page which may contain references to, or be based on, LIBOR. To the extent of such references, they are made available primarily for reference purposes only. Many LIBOR settings will cease to be published from 31 December 2021, and of those settings remaining, many regulatory authorities have warned against entering into any LIBOR-referencing contract after this date. Users should refer to the LMA RFR Destination Table for the risk-free reference rate equivalent to any given LMA facility document which contains references to LIBOR.

These Materials (which term includes, where the context permits, text, content, spreadsheets incorporating macros and electronic interfaces, and their underlying assumptions, conversions, formulae, algorithms, calculations and other mathematical and financial techniques) are made available to members of the Loan Market Association in accordance with the byelaws of the Loan Market Association (a copy of which is available here) to facilitate the documentation of transactions in the loan markets. None of the Loan Market Association, Allen & Overy or Clifford Chance accept any responsibility for any use to which these Materials may be put or for any loss, damage or liability whatsoever arising from such use. None of the Loan Market Association, Allen & Overy or Clifford Chance has reviewed the laws of any jurisdiction which may apply to either party to an agreement using these Materials and its subject matter. Members should therefore consider all the relevant legal, accounting and regulatory issues before using these Materials or entering into a transaction under them and, if appropriate, consult their professional advisers.

In relation to recommended form documents, members are responsible for ensuring that the precise form and content of the documentation for a particular transaction is appropriate. Members should therefore satisfy themselves that the documents and any modifications to them are appropriate in the circumstances and the economic intentions of the parties.

The Loan Market Association consents to the use, reproduction and transmission of these Materials by members of the Loan Market Association only for the Permitted Purpose as set out in the byelaws (a copy of which is available here). The Loan Market Association does not consent to the use, reproduction or transmission of these Materials for any other purpose, in any other manner or by any other person and expressly reserves all other rights.

For further information on members' rights and obligations in relation to these Materials, please refer to the articles of association and byelaws of the Loan Market Association (copies of which are available here) or contact the Loan Market Association at lma@lma.eu.com.

LIBOR IMPORTANT NOTICE

After 31 December 2021 and in light of the cessation of most LIBOR settings, please refer to the RFR Destination Table for the risk-free reference rate equivalent to any given LMA facility document which contains references to LIBOR.