期限利益合同中履约保证金的性质与适用

The Legal Nature and Application of Performance Bond in Contracts with Term Benefits

当事人享有期限利益的合同中常约定的履约保证金属于什么性质,法律未作出规定,学理及司法实务有“质押担保性质”、“定金性质”、“违约金性质”等见解,履约保证金之性质,应视合同具体内容而定,不应一概而论。正确认识履约保证金的性质及适用不仅是学理研究的需要,亦对司法实务具有重要指导意义。当合同约定满足定金要件时,应视为定金性质,除此情形之外应视为一般金钱担保。由于履约保证金作为金钱担保方式与定金作为金钱担保的属性相似,兼具损失补偿性与惩罚性,在处理履约保证金与违约金条款并存时的适用规则,可参考定金与违约金竞合时的责任,由当事人选择适用。履约保证金无法弥补实际损失的,可以请求赔偿超过履约保证金数额的损失。履约保证金超过实际损失数额的部分,具有惩罚性质,给付履约保证金一方不得请求退还。

What is the legal nature of the performance bond agreed in the contract in which the parties have the benefits of the term?The law does not prescribe for it.The academic theory and judicial practice have adopted views such as“pledge guarantee”,“deposit”and“liquidated damages”.The legal nature of the performance bond depends on the specific content of the contract and cannot be generalized.A correct understanding of the legal nature and application of performance bond is not only the need of academic research,but has an important guiding role in judicial practice.When it is agreed to meet the deposit requirements,it shall be regarded as deposit,otherwise it shall be regarded as a general money guarantee.Since performance bond as a monetary guarantee is similar in nature to deposit,it has both the nature of compensation and punishment.Therefore,when dealing with the coexistence of the performance bond and liquidated damages clauses,we may refer to the liability where deposit and liquidated damages coexist,and give the right to the parties to choose and apply.If the performance bond cannot make up for the loss,it may request compensation for losses that exceed the amount of the performance bond.The performance bond that exceeds the amount of the loss is a punishment in nature,therefore,the party paying the performance bond shall not request a refund.