àËÅöÊÓƵ

Skip to main content
LWM66

Law of international finance: syndicated loans

Module information>

Academic Direction
UCL, Queen Mary àËÅöÊÓƵ
Modes of Study
Online

This course is about an important way in which large companies raise vast amounts of money. One solution for businesses that want to borrow large amounts of money is to ask several banks – a syndicate – with each to lend part of the money. This is an enormous market and across the world in 2015 borrowing through syndicated loans reached 4.7 trillion US Dollars. It’s also an international market, and because of its global importance as a finance centre àËÅöÊÓƵ is one of the main places where such deals are arranged. These deals raise a lot of interesting legal issues. What legal system applies to the deal? The deals often involve parties across a number of countries. Another problem is the nature of the relationship between the various parties and the terms that apply to the deal. These issues among many others are covered in this engaging course.

Module A: Capital markets, finance and the loan contract

LWM66A

  • Raising finance, the nature of international finance
  • The nature of the loan contract and its objectives
  • The different types of loan contract, the use of security and guarantees, conflict of laws and choice of forum
  • The loan contract: contractual capacity, formalities, term sheets, commitment letters and mandates, syndication of loans, the model contract, construing the terms of the contract

Module B: Terms of the contract Part I

LWM66B

  • Interest on the loan, adjusting the interest rate
  • Stipulating the purpose of the loan
  • Utilisation request
  • Conditions precedent
  • Representations and warranties

Module C: Terms of the contract Part II

LWM66C

  • Financial covenants
  • Asset disposals and change of business clauses
  • Negative pledge clause

Module D: Syndicate management and loan transfer

LWM66D

  • Syndicate management, the duties and rights of the arranger and agent banks
  • Transferring the rights and obligations under a loan contract
  • Academic Co-ordinators

Assessment

Each module will be assessed by a 45-minute unseen written examination.

Sequence

It is strongly recommended you attempt the modules in order.

How to apply

You can apply to study a module individually as a standalone unit or as part of a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or Master of Laws qualification. (In either scenario, they must be studied in order.)

These modules also contribute towards the following specialist pathways for Laws:

  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Commercial and Corporate Law
  • Corporate and Securities Law
  • Financial Services Law
  • International Business Law