Absence of Litigation - ISDA Provision: Difference between revisions

From The Jolly Contrarian
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 7: Line 7:


===[[Absence of litigation]] generally===
===[[Absence of litigation]] generally===
An [[absence of litigation]] representation seeks to address litigation carrying two particular risks:
An [[absence of litigation]] representation seeks to address litigation carrying two particular risks:
*'''Enforceability''': Litigation that could somehow undermine or prejudice the enforceability of the agreement you are presently negotiating;
*'''Enforceability''': Litigation that could somehow undermine or prejudice the very enforceability of life was we know it (a.k.a the agreement you are presently negotiating);
*'''Credit deterioration''': Litigation that is so monstrous that it could basically put your counterparty out of business altogether, with amounts still owing to you under the agreement you’re negotiating.
*'''Credit deterioration''': Litigation that is so monstrous in scope that it threatens to wipe your [[counterparty]] from the face of the earth altogether, while it still owes you under the agreement you’re negotiating.
 
====Enforceability-threatening litigation====
Firstly, Earth to Planet ISDA: what kind of {{tag|litigation}} or regulatory action — we presume about something unrelated to this agreement since, by your theory, ''it doesn’t damn well exist yet'' — could adversely impact in the ''enforceability'' of this future private legal {{t|contract}} between one of the litigants and an unrelated, and ignorant, third party? Seach me.  


If the litigation is so material it will bankrupt the fund altogether then we have way, way bigger problems in our risk management dept, and if we are only catching that through a litigation rep, then we are properly asleep at the switch. And further more if they make this rep, and it’s wrong, how does having the rep help us?
====Enforceability-threatening {{tag|litigation}}====
Firstly, Earth to Planet ISDA: what kind of {{tag|litigation}} or regulatory action — we presume about something unrelated to this agreement since, by your theory, ''it doesn’t damn well exist yet'' — could adversely impact in the ''enforceability'' of this future private legal {{t|contract}} between one of the litigants and an unrelated, and ignorant, third party?  


Nonetheless, that is one for Credit/Risk. But from my perspective I have never really seen the practical value of this rep (though most clients don’t object to it for that exact reason).
Search me. But still, I rest assured there will an [[Mediocre lawyer|ISDA boxwallah]] out there somewhere who could [[Chicken Licken|think of something]].


====Existentially apocalyptic {{tag|litigation}}====
Look, if your [[counterparty]] is banged up in court proceedings so awful to behold that an adverse finding might bankrupt it altogether, and your credit sanctioning team hasn’t got wind of it independently then, friend, you have way, way bigger problems than whether you have this feeble covenant. And, if you are only catching it at all thanks to a carelessly given [[absence of litigation]] rep, by the time said {{tag|litigation}} makes itself known to you<ref>Judgment day, in other words.</re>''won’t it be a bit late''?


====Pick your battles====
All that said, and probably for all of the above reasons, parties tend not to care less about this representation too vehemently, so your practical course is most likely to leave it where you find it.
{{seealso}}
{{seealso}}
*[[Representation]]
*[[Representation]]

Revision as of 14:56, 10 May 2019

ISDA Anatomy™


In a Nutshell Section 3(c):

3(c) Absence of Litigation. There is no pending or threatened litigation against it, any Credit Support Providers or any Specified Entities before any court or government agency that could affect the legality, enforceability or its ability to perform this Agreement or any Credit Support Document.
view template

2002 ISDA full text of Section 3(c):

3(c) Absence of Litigation. There is not pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against it, any of its Credit Support Providers or any of its applicable Specified Entities any action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity or before any court, tribunal, governmental body, agency or official or any arbitrator that is likely to affect the legality, validity or enforceability against it of this Agreement or any Credit Support Document to which it is a party or its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or such Credit Support Document.
view template

Click here for the text of Section 3(c) in the 1992 ISDA

Index: Click to expand:Navigation
See ISDA Comparison for a comparison between the 1992 ISDA and the 2002 ISDA.
The Varieties of ISDA Experience
Subject 2002 (wikitext) 1992 (wikitext) 1987 (wikitext)
Preamble Pre Pre Pre
Interpretation 1 1 1
Obligns/Payment 2 2 2
Representations 3 3 3
Agreements 4 4 4
EODs & Term Events 5 Events of Default: FTPDBreachCSDMisrepDUSTCross DefaultBankruptcyMWA Termination Events: IllegalityFMTax EventTEUMCEUMATE 5 Events of Default: FTPDBreachCSDMisrepDUSTCross DefaultBankruptcyMWA Termination Events: IllegalityTax EventTEUMCEUMATE 5 Events of Default: FTPDBreachCSDMisrepDUSSCross DefaultBankruptcyMWA Termination Events: IllegalityTax EventTEUMCEUM
Early Termination 6 Early Termination: ET right on EODET right on TEEffect of DesignationCalculations; Payment DatePayments on ETSet-off 6 Early Termination: ET right on EODET right on TEEffect of DesignationCalculationsPayments on ETSet-off 6 Early Termination: ET right on EODET right on TEEffect of DesignationCalculationsPayments on ET
Transfer 7 7 7
Contractual Currency 8 8 8
Miscellaneous 9 9 9
Offices; Multibranch Parties 10 10 10
Expenses 11 11 11
Notices 12 12 12
Governing Law 13 13 13
Definitions 14 14 14
Schedule Schedule Schedule Schedule
Termination Provisions Part 1 Part 1 Part 1
Tax Representations Part 2 Part 2 Part 2
Documents for Delivery Part 3 Part 3 Part 3
Miscellaneous Part 4 Part 4 Part 4
Other Provisions Part 5 Part 5 Part 5
Tell me more
Sign up for our newsletter — or just get in touch: for ½ a weekly 🍺 you get to consult JC. Ask about it here.


Reference to Affiliates can be controversial, particularly for hedge fund managers.

More generally, absence of litigation it is roundly pointless representation, but seeing as (other than unaffiliated Hedge Fund managers) no-one really complains about it, it is best to just leave well alone. It is one for the life’s too short file.

But if you do see your life stretching away unendingly to the horizon, and you haven’t got anything else in the calendar in the next half hour, go west, young man. If you can’t try this:

Absence of litigation generally

An absence of litigation representation seeks to address litigation carrying two particular risks:

  • Enforceability: Litigation that could somehow undermine or prejudice the very enforceability of life was we know it (a.k.a the agreement you are presently negotiating);
  • Credit deterioration: Litigation that is so monstrous in scope that it threatens to wipe your counterparty from the face of the earth altogether, while it still owes you under the agreement you’re negotiating.

====Enforceability-threatening litigation==== Firstly, Earth to Planet ISDA: what kind of litigation or regulatory action — we presume about something unrelated to this agreement since, by your theory, it doesn’t damn well exist yet — could adversely impact in the enforceability of this future private legal contract between one of the litigants and an unrelated, and ignorant, third party?

Search me. But still, I rest assured there will an ISDA boxwallah out there somewhere who could think of something.

====Existentially apocalyptic litigation==== Look, if your counterparty is banged up in court proceedings so awful to behold that an adverse finding might bankrupt it altogether, and your credit sanctioning team hasn’t got wind of it independently then, friend, you have way, way bigger problems than whether you have this feeble covenant. And, if you are only catching it at all thanks to a carelessly given absence of litigation rep, by the time said litigation makes itself known to you<ref>Judgment day, in other words.</re>won’t it be a bit late?

Pick your battles

All that said, and probably for all of the above reasons, parties tend not to care less about this representation too vehemently, so your practical course is most likely to leave it where you find it.

See also