Mezzanine Lending Video Series (Episode 1)
Advancing Agriculture: Security Interests and Article 9 Challenges (Part 1)
The Privy Council has clarified that the duty of care to "obtain the best price reasonably obtainable" in the sale of secured collateral does not require a secured party to improve an asset before sale to obtain the best...more
Many subscription credit facilities will provide for the issuance of letters of credit in addition to the funding of loans. A letter of credit is an irrevocable undertaking for the payment of money issued by a bank at the...more
It is widely understood that fine art collectors frequently identify investment as a primary motivation for acquiring fine art. Considering the fluctuating financial markets and prevailing global uncertainties, many fine art...more
Cascading pledges are frequently used in subscription finance to avoid legal impediments, avoid tax implications and mitigate prohibited transaction risk under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended...more
Oil and gas companies operating in the Gulf States frequently access financing to support their operations and exploration. The transactions involve unique legal complexities due to the nature of the industry and assets...more
A lot of attention and press has been given to market volatility this year, including its impact on the fund finance industry. There is at least one sector of the fund finance industry that stands to benefit from this...more
Lenders extend loans with the belief that if a borrower fails to make debt service payments, the lender can sell the underlying collateral and recoup the outstanding balance of the loan. However, bankruptcy courts have the...more
When a borrower defaults under a loan agreement, you face a dual challenge: time pressure demands swift action, while legal complexities require precision. Whether confronting missed payments, breached financial covenants, or...more
Subscription credit facilities, commonly referred to as “sub-lines” or “capital call facilities,” are a cornerstone of private equity finance. These facilities are secured by a bespoke collateral package that protects lenders...more
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - There is a spectrum of potential financing structures for a private credit fund (a “Credit Fund”) to obtain liquidity, including at various levels in the fund structure, such as at the fund level or by...more
In most chapter 11 cases, existing first lien lenders provide post-petition financing to preserve collateral value and maximize recovery. In some situations, a stressed borrower may threaten to pursue a hostile chapter 11...more
Automated loan software can be effective for documenting consumer loans and some basic low-value commercial loans. However, most commercial transactions require greater attention on the front end than simple form generation....more
When a company enters bankruptcy, its assets are often sold to the highest or best bid. Secured lenders — those who have perfected liens on the company's assets — have a unique advantage under Section 363(k) of the Bankruptcy...more
The recent closing by Goldman Sachs of its highly innovative and market leading US$475 million “capital call” securitisation of subscription credit lines has generated a lot of interest in both fund finance and structured...more
Equity Commitment Letters (ECL) are legal documents pursuant to which one party (typically the main fund or multiple funds managed by the sponsor) (the ECL Provider) commits to providing a certain amount of capital, usually...more
As a lending lawyer for more than a quarter century at this point, I have seen that deposit accounts and deposit account control agreements are a routine component of virtually every transaction. Deposit accounts are a source...more
A “negative pledge” on intellectual property is a common feature of venture lending transactions, but its implications can often be misunderstood. Some lenders may be surprised to discover that it does not always provide the...more
Liquidity solutions are a topic du jour in fund finance. With bank balance sheets somewhat restricted by macroeconomic concerns and risk-weighted asset regulations, fund finance borrowers and lenders have sought creative ways...more
The combination of increased regulatory pressure and additional investor demand for higher yield has seen numerous banks gradually displaced by private debt funds in the corporate lending sector (particularly for mid-market...more
A strange confluence of geopolitical events, labor unrest, softening consumer demand, and supply-chain logistical issues could leave lumps of coal in the stockings of lenders this holiday season. The story begins in the Red...more
On May 15, 2024, Alabama became the thirteenth state to adopt a version of the Uniform Law Commission’s Uniform Commercial Real Estate Receiver Act (the “Act”). The Act seeks to bring more direction and clarity to...more
The key component of any subscription credit facility is the underlying capital commitments that are pledged to secure the facility. Virtually every lender will require some level of over-collateralization – meaning, investor...more
Executive Summary - Net Asset Value (“NAV”) credit facilities are a tool that borrowers may use to access financing based on the value of their underlying investment portfolio. The users of these facilities are generally...more
We have recently seen a notable uptick in the usage of equity commitment letters (ECLs) in fund finance transactions and have been spending an increasing amount of time discussing their merits with our clients’ credit teams....more
While the market for NAV financings—loans to funds supported by the net asset value of their portfolios—grew in 2023 and continues to rapidly evolve, a consensus has developed around what is sometimes referred to as a “Holdco...more