Ƶ

Break Fee Agreement for Germany

Break Fee Agreement Template for Germany

A Break Fee Agreement under German law (governed by the German Civil Code - BGB) is a legally binding document that establishes the terms and conditions under which one party agrees to pay a predetermined fee to another party if a specified transaction or deal fails to complete under certain circumstances. The agreement details trigger events, calculation methodologies, and payment terms while ensuring compliance with German corporate law, competition regulations, and where applicable, securities trading requirements. This document is particularly crucial in merger and acquisition transactions, providing certainty and risk allocation between parties while adhering to German legal principles regarding liquidated damages and contractual obligations.

Your data doesn't train Genie's AI

You keep IP ownership of your information

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Download a Standard Template

4.6 / 5
4.8 / 5
Access for free
OR

Alternatively: Run an advanced review of an existing
Break Fee Agreement

Let Ƶ's market-leading legal AI identify missing terms, unusual language, compliance issues and more - in just seconds.

What is a Break Fee Agreement?

Break Fee Agreements are essential risk management tools in significant corporate transactions under German law. These agreements are typically used in merger and acquisition contexts, corporate restructurings, or other major business transactions where parties need to allocate risk and ensure commitment. The Break Fee Agreement specifies circumstances triggering payment obligations, usually when one party withdraws from or fails to complete a transaction, with fee amounts typically ranging from 1-3% of the transaction value in accordance with German market practice. The document must comply with German legal requirements, including the Civil Code (BGB), Corporate Law (AktG), and competition regulations (GWB). It's particularly relevant when dealing with listed companies or regulated industries, where additional compliance requirements may apply. The agreement provides security for parties investing significant resources in transaction preparation and can serve as a deterrent against non-serious bidders or last-minute withdrawals.

What sections should be included in a Break Fee Agreement?

1. Parties: Identification and details of the contracting parties

2. Background: Context of the agreement, including reference to the primary transaction

3. Definitions and Interpretation: Key terms used in the agreement and rules for interpretation

4. Break Fee Trigger Events: Specific circumstances that will trigger the break fee obligation

5. Break Fee Amount and Calculation: Specification of the break fee amount or calculation methodology

6. Payment Terms: Timing, method, and conditions for payment of the break fee

7. Representations and Warranties: Standard confirmations by the parties regarding their capacity and authority

8. Compliance with Laws: Confirmation of compliance with relevant German laws and regulations

9. Confidentiality: Provisions regarding the confidential treatment of the agreement and related information

10. Notices: Process and requirements for formal communications between parties

11. Governing Law and Jurisdiction: Confirmation of German law application and jurisdiction

12. General Provisions: Standard boilerplate clauses including severability, entire agreement, and amendments

What sections are optional to include in a Break Fee Agreement?

1. Regulatory Approvals: Required when the break fee arrangement is subject to regulatory oversight or approval

2. Tax Provisions: Specific tax treatment and obligations when tax implications are material to the arrangement

3. Corporate Governance Requirements: Additional provisions for listed companies or regulated entities

4. Alternative Dispute Resolution: Optional mediation or arbitration procedures before court litigation

5. Force Majeure: Provisions for extraordinary events affecting the trigger conditions

6. Step-in Rights: Rights of third parties to assume obligations, relevant in complex corporate transactions

What schedules should be included in a Break Fee Agreement?

1. Calculation Methodology: Detailed formula and examples for break fee calculation

2. Form of Notice: Template for formal notices under the agreement

3. Corporate Authorizations: Copies of relevant board resolutions and authorizations

4. Related Transaction Documents: List and summary of connected transaction documents

5. Payment Instructions: Detailed banking and payment processing information

Authors

Alex Denne

Head of Growth (Open Source Law) @ Ƶ | 3 x UCL-Certified in Contract Law & Drafting | 4+ Years Managing 1M+ Legal Documents | Serial Founder & Legal AI Author

Jurisdiction

Germany

Publisher

Ƶ

Document Type

Fee Agreement

Cost

Free to use
Relevant legal definitions






































Clauses




























Relevant Industries

Banking & Financial Services

Private Equity

Real Estate

Manufacturing

Technology

Healthcare

Energy

Infrastructure

Telecommunications

Professional Services

Relevant Teams

Legal

Corporate Development

Mergers & Acquisitions

Finance

Treasury

Compliance

Risk Management

Corporate Secretariat

Investment Banking

Executive Leadership

Relevant Roles

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Officer

General Counsel

Corporate Development Director

M&A Director

Investment Banking Director

Legal Counsel

Transaction Manager

Corporate Finance Manager

Risk Manager

Compliance Officer

Board Member

Company Secretary

Industries






Teams

Employer, Employee, Start Date, Job Title, Department, Location, Probationary Period, Notice Period, Salary, Overtime, Vacation Pay, Statutory Holidays, Benefits, Bonus, Expenses, Working Hours, Rest Breaks,  Leaves of Absence, Confidentiality, Intellectual Property, Non-Solicitation, Non-Competition, Code of Conduct, Termination,  Severance Pay, Governing Law, Entire Agreemen

Find the exact document you need

Service Fee Contract

A German law-governed contract establishing terms and conditions for service provision and associated fees between a service provider and client.

Download

Referrer Agreement

German law-governed agreement establishing terms for business referral relationships, including compensation and compliance requirements.

Download

Hourly Rate Agreement

German law-governed Hourly Rate Agreement for professional services, including essential legal requirements under German employment and contract law.

Download

Early Termination Contract

A German law-compliant agreement for the early termination of employment by mutual consent, outlining termination terms and settlements.

Download

Consultation Fee Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms, conditions, and fee arrangements for professional consultation services.

Download

Finders Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms for business introductions and finder's fee arrangements, compliant with German commercial and civil law requirements.

Download

Referral Fee Contract

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms for business referrals and associated compensation between parties.

Download

Break Fee Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms for payment of a break fee if a transaction fails to complete under specified circumstances.

Download

Mandate And Fee Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing professional service terms, scope, and fee arrangements between service providers and clients.

Download

Flat Rate Agreement

German law-governed agreement establishing fixed-price terms for recurring services, compliant with BGB requirements.

Download

Cost And Fee Contract

A German law-governed Cost and Fee Contract for professional services, detailing fee structures, cost components, and service delivery requirements.

Download

Service Fee Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms and conditions for service provision and compensation, aligned with BGB requirements.

Download

Fixed Fee Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing fixed payment terms for defined services or deliverables, structured according to German Civil Code requirements.

Download

Commission Fee Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing commission-based compensation terms between a principal and agent, compliant with BGB and HGB requirements.

Download

Success Fee Contract

A German law-governed agreement establishing performance-based compensation terms where payment is contingent upon achieving specific outcomes.

Download

Property Finders Fee Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms and compensation for property finding services, compliant with German real estate regulations and the BGB.

Download

Consultant Referral Agreement

German law-governed agreement establishing terms for consultant referrals, including fees, processes, and compliance requirements under German regulatory framework.

Download

Real Estate Finders Fee Agreement

German law-governed agreement setting out terms for real estate finder services and commission structure.

Download

Fee Contract

A German law-governed Fee Contract (Honorarvertrag) for professional service arrangements, establishing service scope and fee structures.

Download

Broker Fee Contract

A German law-governed agreement establishing broker services terms and commission arrangements, regulated under the German Civil Code (BGB).

Download

Software Referral Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms for software sales referral partnerships, including commission structures and compliance requirements.

Download

Marketing Referral Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms for business referrals and associated compensation between a company and referring party.

Download

Referral Contract Agreement

A German-law governed agreement establishing terms for business referrals between parties, including referral process, compensation, and compliance requirements.

Download

Referral Agent Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms for referral arrangements between a principal company and referral agent, including compensation and compliance requirements.

Download

Placement Fee Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms and fees for professional recruitment services between agencies and hiring companies.

Download

Facilitation Fee Agreement

German law-governed agreement establishing terms for legitimate business facilitation services with compliance safeguards.

Download

Guaranty Fee Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms for guarantee fee payments, including calculation methodology and payment obligations.

Download

Monthly Retainer Agreement

German law-governed agreement for ongoing professional services with monthly payment structure, compliant with BGB requirements.

Download

Marketing Fee Agreement

German law-governed agreement establishing marketing service terms, fees, and performance requirements between service providers and clients.

Download

Lead Referral Agreement

German law-compliant agreement governing the terms and process for referring business leads between companies.

Download

Website Maintenance Contract

A German law-governed agreement outlining terms and conditions for professional website maintenance services, including service levels and data protection requirements.

Download

Guarantee Fee Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing the terms and fees payable for providing a guarantee, including calculation methodology and payment obligations.

Download

Development Fee Agreement

A German law-governed agreement specifying development services scope and fee arrangements for real estate and construction projects.

Download

Assignment Fee Contract

A German law agreement documenting the transfer of rights or claims from an assignor to an assignee for a specified fee, structured under German civil and commercial law requirements.

Download

Split Fee Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing terms for fee sharing between parties, including payment structures and regulatory compliance.

Download

Reservation Fee Agreement

A German law agreement establishing terms for payment of a reservation fee to secure exclusive rights to purchase or lease property.

Download

Rental Fee Agreement

A German law-compliant agreement detailing rental fee structures, operating costs, and payment terms between landlord and tenant, governed by the BGB.

Download

Early Termination Agreement

A German law-governed agreement for the consensual early termination of an existing contract, addressing termination terms, settlements, and mutual releases.

Download

Flat Fee Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing fixed-price terms for professional services delivery.

Download

Consulting Referral Fee Agreement

A German law-governed agreement establishing referral fee arrangements between consulting parties, including referral processes and compensation structures.

Download
See more related templates

ұԾ’s Security Promise

Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.

Your documents are private:

We do not train on your data; ұԾ’s 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

We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure

Organizational security:

You retain IP ownership of your documents and their information

You have full control over your data and who gets to see it