Executive Summary - Over the last several years, a need has arisen in the fund finance market, which caters to private equity, venture capital, family offices, and other investment funds (“Funds”) and their sponsors, for...more
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 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
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
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
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
Goodwin is proud to be a platinum sponsor of the 2024 Global Fund Finance Symposium. As next week’s conference approaches and our clients, colleagues, and friends head toward Miami, the Goodwin Fund Finance team has paused to...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
Recent years have seen significant growth and innovation in the fund finance industry — and, with an increase in the number and complexity of products in the market, it has become commonplace for industry publications and...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
A fund is a living, breathing organism that aims to achieve much more than being a vessel for a subscription credit facility. The limited partnership agreement (“LPA”) of the fund may have to be amended, restated,...more
As we enter back-to-school season and look forward to FFA U this fall, we thought a back-to-basics primer on the limited partnership agreement (the “LPA”), which is the legal and credit cornerstone of our product, would be...more
In the private equity secondaries market, financing is often used to facilitate the purchase of portfolios of interests in private equity funds. These transactions require lenders to underwrite the value of assets that the...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
El Ministerio de Hacienda y Crédito Público (MHCP) expidió el Decreto 455 de 2023, por medio del cual se crean nuevas modalidades de crédito cuyas tasas de interés deben ser certificadas por la Superintendencia Financiera de...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
In the days leading up to the closing of a credit facility, it is not uncommon for the administrative agent to ask each lender a simple question, “do you need a note?” For many lenders, the response is in the affirmative, but...more
For funds that are nearing the end of their investment period and have limited or no remaining unfunded capital commitments, the need to continue a subscription line facility for ongoing liquidity may continue to exist for...more