Interested in training for your team? Click here to learn more

Secured Lending: Negotiating and Interpreting Best Efforts, Ordinary Course of Business, and Anti-Assignment Provisions

Documenting Grant of Security Interest in Assets Subject to Anti-Assignment Clause and Interpreting Complex Covenants

Recording of a 90-minute premium CLE webinar with Q&A

This program is included with the Strafford CLE Pass. Click for more information.
This program is included with the Strafford All-Access Pass. Click for more information.

Conducted on Thursday, March 2, 2017

Recorded event now available

or call 1-800-926-7926

This CLE course will provide guidance on structuring anti-assignment clauses in secured debt financing agreements and interpreting financing agreement terms that are often not properly understood, including “ordinary course of business,” “best efforts,” “reasonable best efforts” and “commercially reasonable efforts.”

Description

Debt finance counsel must know how to interpret anti-assignment provisions in contracts granting a security interest in an asset, license or permit. Since UCC Article 9 can modify restrictions on assignment, counsel must also understand the effect of modifications on lenders seeking a security interest in assets subject to anti-assignment provisions.

Counsel must also recognize what Article 9 “override” provisions do and do not accomplish, and how to structure and document the grant of security in assets subject to anti-assignment clauses. Consideration of rules governing assignment of contracts with the federal government is also key.

The interpretation of terms in debt agreements are often problematic, including terms such as “in the ordinary course of business” and “best efforts.” How ordinary does the transaction have to be? How are “best efforts,” “reasonable best efforts” and “commercially reasonable efforts” different? Drafting with clarity is critical.

Listen as our authoritative panel of debt finance attorneys offers guidance on effectively structuring and documenting the grant of a security interest in assets subject to anti-assignment provisions. The panel will offer practical approaches on drafting, negotiating and interpreting covenants using “best efforts” and “in the ordinary course of business” contract terms.

READ MORE

Outline

  1. Interpretation of certain common terms in debt agreements
    1. “Ordinary course of business”
      1. Common usage
      2. Case law guidance
      3. Recommendations
    2. “Best efforts,” “reasonable best efforts” and “commercially reasonable efforts”
      1. Common usage
      2. Case law guidance
      3. Recommendations
  2. Dealing with contractual and legal restrictions on assignment in the context of secured lending
    1. Contractual restrictions; interpretation of “assignment” and similar language
    2. Assignment of Claims Act
    3. FCC rules and recent case law
    4. The UCC “override” applicable to certain general intangibles and receivables assets—UCC Sections 9-406 through 408
      1. What the “override" does not do
      2. Important state variations and why they are important
      3. Related choice of law issues and documentation considerations

Benefits

The panel will review these and other issues:

  • How should finance counsel craft “best efforts”-style obligations in their agreements to clearly reflect the intent of the parties and not promise either too much or too little?
  • How do provisions in Article 9 of the UCC affect contractual and legal restrictions on assignment in connection with grants of security interests in debt financings?
  • What are some ways secured lenders can structure the grant of security in assets subject to anti-assignment provisions in order to maximize the strength of their collateral position without violation of underlying restrictions?

Faculty

Galil, Yair Y.
Yair Y. Galil

Of Counsel
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

Mr. Galil is a member of the Firm's Global Finance Practice Group. He represents a variety of clients,...  |  Read More

Mehraban, Darius
Darius J. Mehraban

Partner
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

As a member of the firm's Global Finance Group, Mr. Mehraban focuses on loan and debt financing transactions,...  |  Read More

Access Anytime, Anywhere

Strafford will process CLE credit for one person on each recording. All formats include course handouts.

To find out which recorded format will provide the best CLE option, select your state:

CLE On-Demand Video

Download