I svaret vedrørende indledningen af den formelle undersøgelsesprocedure oplyste Tyskland, at der var tale om lejekøb ("Mietkauf") af investeringsgoder, for hvilke Vopelius overtog en selvskyldnerkaution.
In its response to the initiation of the formal investigation procedure, Germany explained that this amount related to the hire purchase (Mietkauf) of investment goods for which Vopelius provided a guarantee.