Create a bespoke document in minutes,聽or upload and review your own.
Get your first 2 documents free
Your data doesn't train Genie's AI
You keep IP ownership聽of your information
Intercreditor Agreement
I need an intercreditor agreement that outlines the rights and obligations of senior and junior creditors in a syndicated loan structure, ensuring clear priority of claims and enforcement actions. The agreement should include provisions for payment waterfalls, standstill periods, and voting rights, with a focus on Hong Kong jurisdictional requirements.
What is an Intercreditor Agreement?
An Intercreditor Agreement sets out the rights and priorities between different lenders who provide loans to the same borrower. In Hong Kong's busy lending market, these agreements are crucial when multiple banks or financial institutions fund a single project or company.
The agreement spells out key details like who gets paid first if the borrower defaults, which lender can take action against the borrower, and how collateral is shared. For example, in a typical Hong Kong property development, the main bank might have first claim on the building, while secondary lenders get repaid from other assets. This arrangement helps avoid disputes and creates clear rules for everyone involved.
When should you use an Intercreditor Agreement?
You need an Intercreditor Agreement anytime multiple lenders provide financing to the same borrower in Hong Kong. This becomes especially important in syndicated loans, project financing, or when restructuring existing debt. For example, when financing a major infrastructure project, different banks might fund different phases or aspects of construction.
The agreement becomes essential before the first loan disbursement to prevent future conflicts. It's particularly crucial in complex scenarios like property development loans with both senior bank financing and mezzanine debt, or when dealing with mainland Chinese lenders alongside Hong Kong banks. Getting this agreement in place early helps avoid costly disputes and ensures smooth coordination between lenders.
What are the different types of Intercreditor Agreement?
- Senior-Subordinate Structure: Most common in Hong Kong, where senior lenders have priority over subordinate lenders for both payments and security
- Pari Passu Arrangement: All lenders share equal rights and priority, often used in club deals among banks of similar standing
- First-Second Lien Structure: Popular in secured financing, where first-lien lenders have priority over specific assets while second-lien lenders have subordinate claims
- Split Collateral: Different lenders have first priority over different asset pools, common in trade finance and property development
- Layered Priority: Complex waterfall structures with multiple tiers of priority, typically used in large syndicated deals
Who should typically use an Intercreditor Agreement?
- Primary Lenders: Usually major Hong Kong banks or financial institutions who hold first-priority security interests and lead the lending syndicate
- Secondary Lenders: Mezzanine financiers, private equity firms, or smaller banks who accept subordinated positions in the credit structure
- Corporate Borrowers: Companies receiving multiple loans, often for large projects or business expansion
- Legal Counsel: Hong Kong law firms specializing in banking and finance who draft and negotiate the agreements
- Security Agents: Financial institutions that manage collateral and enforce security rights on behalf of multiple lenders
How do you write an Intercreditor Agreement?
- Loan Details: Gather information about all existing and proposed loans, including amounts, interest rates, and security arrangements
- Lender Priorities: Confirm the ranking of each lender's claims and their voting rights for key decisions
- Security Package: Document all collateral and how it will be shared or allocated among lenders
- Payment Waterfall: Establish the order of payments and how proceeds from enforcement will be distributed
- Enforcement Rights: Define which lenders can take action against the borrower and under what circumstances
- Standstill Provisions: Specify periods during which junior lenders cannot take enforcement action
What should be included in an Intercreditor Agreement?
- Parties and Definitions: Clear identification of all lenders, borrowers, and key terms used throughout
- Priority Structure: Detailed ranking of debt and security interests among different classes of lenders
- Payment Provisions: Rules for distribution of payments and proceeds among creditors
- Enforcement Mechanisms: Procedures for taking action against borrowers and exercising security rights
- Standstill Terms: Periods and conditions when junior creditors must refrain from enforcement
- Amendments: Process for modifying the agreement with required consent levels
- Governing Law: Explicit statement choosing Hong Kong law and jurisdiction
What's the difference between an Intercreditor Agreement and a Bond Issuance Agreement?
People often confuse an Intercreditor Agreement with a Bond Issuance Agreement, especially in Hong Kong's complex financing landscape. While both deal with debt arrangements, they serve distinctly different purposes and involve different relationships.
- Primary Purpose: Intercreditor Agreements manage relationships between multiple lenders, while Bond Issuance Agreements establish terms between a single issuer and bondholders
- Party Structure: Intercreditor Agreements involve multiple banks or lenders with different priorities, whereas Bond Issuance Agreements typically have one issuer and many identical bondholder rights
- Security Arrangements: Intercreditor Agreements detail how different lenders share or rank in security interests, while Bond Issuance Agreements focus on the specific security backing the bonds
- Enforcement Rights: Intercreditor Agreements specify which lenders can take action when, while Bond Issuance Agreements usually give all bondholders equal enforcement rights
Download our whitepaper on the future of AI in Legal
骋别苍颈别鈥檚 Security Promise
Genie is the safest place to draft. Here鈥檚 how we prioritise your privacy and security.
Your documents are private:
We do not train on your data; 骋别苍颈别鈥檚 AI improves independently
All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation
Your documents are protected:
Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption
Our bank-grade security infrastructure undergoes regular external audits
We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure
Organizational security
You retain IP ownership of your documents
You have full control over your data and who gets to see it
Innovation in privacy:
Genie partnered with the Computational Privacy Department at Imperial College London
Together, we ran a 拢1 million research project on privacy and anonymity in legal contracts
Want to know more?
Visit our for more details and real-time security updates.
Read our Privacy Policy.