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.
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.