The credit agreement for a subscription credit facility will list several conditions precedent that are required prior to the credit agreement becoming effective and/or the first extension of credit occurring thereunder....more
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - Net Asset Value ("NAV") credit facilities are lending arrangements underwritten on the borrower’s portfolio of investments, where the amount available for borrowing is based on the value of such...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 said it before – the “credit cornerstone” of a subscription credit facility is the limited partnership agreement (the “LPA”) – it is the primary contract, together with any side letters, governing the relationship...more
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - Private equity structures often use “blockers” to achieve certain tax benefits. In this Legal Update, we explain what blockers are, how they may be used in a subscription credit facility, and what...more
Section 23A and Super 23A can create additional complications for lenders in the fund finance market. Intended to protect the stability of financial institutions by restricting transactions with affiliates, Section 23A and...more
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - In the evolving landscape of the subscription credit facility market, the introduction of fraud allegations by an investor against a fund as a new exclusion event marks a pivotal shift....more
Fund-level subscription-secured revolving lines of credit are a well-established instrument in the toolkits of a variety of private equity fund sponsors and managers, including for venture capital funds, hedge funds, debt...more
Because banks receive favorable capital treatment when a credit facility’s tenor is shorter than one year, lenders increasingly offer financing with 364-day tenors and uncommitted extension option terms of up to 364 days. In...more
Recallable capital has become an increasingly common concept in subscription credit facilities. In this Legal Update, we explain the concept of recallable capital and its role in subscription credit facilities, as well as...more
The primary purpose of a capital call facility is to provide bridge financing to a fund borrower that may be drawn upon, in lieu of calling capital, to make investments in accordance with the fund’s business purpose. In...more
The year 2023 presented the fund finance industry with many challenges that it rose to face with an inventiveness and rigour that showed just how mature and multi-faceted the market has become. At Cadwalader in London we saw...more
Net asset value based credit facilities (“NAV Facilities”) are credit facilities pursuant to which the availability thereunder is based on the net asset value of the investments of the borrower, typically a private fund. The...more
Second Circuit upholds SDNY’s finding that under Reves syndicated loans are not securities under federal law. Introduction - On August 24, 2023, the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued its highly...more
In this article we look at the lender's right to challenge a sponsor’s valuation of their investments in the context of a NAV-backed financing. This right to challenge is a relatively recent development in these transactions,...more
Welcome to the latest edition of the Spectrum, covering hot-topic issues in the structured finance markets in the U.S. and UK. This edition features smooth sailing through safe harbors, the English Court doing the cross-class...more
Guaranties are a common feature in fund finance transactions. Particularly in NAV loans, upstream and affiliate (or “sideways”) guaranties are used. Below we discuss some of the context for the use of these types of...more
In years past defaulting lender mechanics in a subscription credit facility may have been viewed as boiler plate language and, in most cases, the relevant provisions have not received much attention. In light of recent events...more
As leveraged loan markets have been impacted by a challenging macroeconomic environment, private equity sponsors are sharpening their focus on flexibility in their portfolio companies’ loan documents Given the sharp...more
For our eighth installment in the FFF Sovereign Immunity Series, we consider the doctrine of sovereign immunity in England & Wales. We begin with our usual disclaimer that sovereign immunity is a complex legal and tax...more
The 2023 edition of the Fund Finance Association’s annual conference was again filled with interesting insights from a wide range of industry participants and leaders. The panel titled “Market Evolution & Industry...more
Following on Mike Mascia’s Closing Remarks delivered to young Fund Finance professionals at last month’s FFA University 1.0, I wanted to take things back to the basics for those who are just starting their careers in fund...more
When we think about parties to a subscription credit facility (the “Facility”), all eyes are generally on the fund and the general partner (the “GP”), but the investment manager (the “Manager”) is also a party to watch. For...more
As interest rates rise and a potential recession looms, we’ve seen a flight to quality as new entrants seek to participate in our fund finance market. While most deals on our books have just one lender and one fund as...more