The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) said Sunday it was shutting down the German arm of Maple Bank, which is part of Canada's Maple Financial Group.

BaFin, which is headed by Felix Hufeld (pictured), accused the Frankfurt-based lender of tax evasion and money laundering, saying the company will have to set aside funds to cover tax payments.

A small lender, Maple Bank has total net assets of just $5.6 billion (5 billion euros) and liabilities of $2.9 billion, and is therefore at risk of "impending financial over-indebtedness." Authorities are closing the bank to customers and preventing the bank from taking payments not related to its debt.

No threat to Germany's stability

The watchdog said its closure poses no threat to Germany's financial stability.

Maple Bank is best known in Germany for having assisted carmaker Porsche in its attempt to take over German auto manufacturer Volkswagen in 2008.

German authorities launched the tax probe in September.

blc/sms (AP, AFP)