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New York · Through 2026-09-11

N.Y. General Obligations Law § 18-402: Continuity of contract and safe harbor

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. General Obligations Law
  2. Article 18-C. Libor Discontinuance

§ 18-402. Continuity of contract and safe harbor. 1. The selection or

use of a recommended benchmark replacement as a benchmark replacement

under or in respect of a contract, security or instrument by operation

of section 18-401 of this article shall constitute:

a. a commercially reasonable replacement for and a commercially

substantial equivalent to LIBOR;

b. a reasonable, comparable or analogous term for LIBOR under or in

respect of such contract, security or instrument;

c. a replacement that is based on a methodology or information that is

similar or comparable to LIBOR; and

d. substantial performance by any person of any right or obligation

relating to or based on LIBOR under or in respect of a contract,

security or instrument.

2. None of: a. a LIBOR discontinuance event or a LIBOR replacement

date, b. the selection or use of a recommended benchmark replacement as

a benchmark replacement; or c. the determination, implementation or

performance of benchmark replacement conforming changes, in each case,

by operation of section 18-401 of this article, shall:

(i) be deemed to impair or affect the right of any person to receive a

payment, or affect the amount or timing of such payment, under any

contract, security, or instrument; or

(ii) have the effect of (A) discharging or excusing performance under

any contract, security or instrument for any reason, claim or defense,

including, but not limited to, any force majeure or other provision in

any contract, security or instrument; (B) giving any person the right to

unilaterally terminate or suspend performance under any contract,

security or instrument; (C) constituting a breach of a contract,

security or instrument; or (D) voiding or nullifying any contract,

security or instrument.

3. No person shall have any liability for damages to any person or be

subject to any claim or request for equitable relief arising out of or

related to the selection or use of a recommended benchmark replacement

or the determination, implementation or performance of benchmark

replacement conforming changes, in each case, by operation of section

18-401 of this article, and such selection or use of the recommended

benchmark replacement or such determination implementation or

performance of benchmark replacement conforming changes shall not give

rise to any claim or cause of action by any person in law or in equity.

4. The selection or use of a recommended benchmark replacement or the

determination, implementation, or performance of benchmark replacement

conforming changes, by operation of section 18-401 of this article,

shall be deemed to:

a. not be an amendment or modification of any contract, security or

instrument; and

b. not prejudice, impair or affect any person's rights, interests or

obligations under or in respect of any contract, security or instrument.

5. Except as provided in either subdivision one or subdivision three

of section 18-401 of this article, the provisions of this article shall

not be interpreted as creating any negative inference or negative

presumption regarding the validity or enforceability of:

a. any benchmark replacement that is not a recommended replacement

benchmark;

b. any spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining a

spread adjustment, that is not a recommended spread adjustment; or

c. any changes, alterations or modifications to or in respect of a

contract, security or instrument that are not benchmark replacement

conforming changes.

Collected 2026-09-14T19:32:45Z. Source file · JSON

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