Secured Transactions ✔️ Flashcards
What is a security interest?
An interest in personal property or fixtures that secures payment or performance of an obligation
Difference between obligor and debtor?
(Usually the same person, but:)
Obligor—the person who must pay (or otherwise perform) with respect to the obligation that is secured by the SI
Debtor—the person who has interest, other than the SI or other lien, in the collateral, such as its sole owner
What are goods?
Anything that is moveable at time that the SI attaches.
What determines the class of goods?
The debtor’s principal use at the time the SI attaches.
NB: The debtor’s use only matters for tangible collateral.
What are consumer goods?
goods acquired primarily for personal, family, or household purposes
What are farm products?
goods that are crops or livestock or products of crops or livestock, and supplies that are used or produced in farming
What is inventory?
Goods, other than farm products, held for sale or lease; are furnished under a service contract; or consist of raw materials, works in process, or materials used or consumed in a business
Usually refers to goods that are consumed in a business (e.g., fuel)
What is equipment?
Catchall class (everything-else-goods); goods that are not consumer goods, farm products, or inventory
What is chattel paper?
one or more records that evidence both:
(i) a monetary obligation
and
(ii) a security interest in specific goods (or a lease of specific goods)
What is a document?
a document of title, which confers on the holder ownership rights in goods held by a bailee
What is an account?
the right to payment for property sold, leased, or licensed, or services rendered
Difference between Account and Deposit account?
Account = the right to payment for property sold, leased, or licensed, or services rendered
Deposit account = bank account, basically
What is a general intangible?
A residual category of intangible collateral, e.g. copyrights
NB: Very rare, unlikely to be in this group
What is covered (and not) under Article 9?
Transactions that create a security interest in personal ppy or fixture.
This includes leases when they are in substance a secured transaction.
Liens are generally not covered, but agricultural liens are.
Sale of personal property is not covered.
Real property transactions generally not covered, but can apply to promissory note even if there is a (non-Article 9) mortgage.
Definition of attachment?
Attachment is when a SI becomes enforceable against the debtor with respect to that collateral (the SI “attaches” to the collateral).
⭐Requirements of attachment?⭐
“V-R-SA”
- Value = Value given by SP,
- Rights = Debtor has rights in the collateral, and
- Security Agreement = the debtor has either authenticated a security agreement describing the collateral, OR the SP has possession or control of the coll pursuant thereto
General rule on future advances?
Future advances can be secured by collateral.
What forms may value take?
Generally, it’s broader than just contractual consideration.
Value given by SP can be:
- Consideration sufficient to form a contract,
- extending credit,
- accepting delivery under a preexisting contract,
- or satisfaction of a preexisting claim
Can be:
- money,
- money’s worth in property, services, new credit, or
- release by transferee of an interest in property previously transfered to the transferee
To what rights does a SI attach?
Generally, the SI attaches only to the rights that the debtor has in the collateral.
Requirements of a security agreement?
A security agreement must satisfy the Statute of Frauds* and be:
in a record,
contain a description** of the collateral, and
be authenticated by the debtor.
* Possession or Control of the collateral by the SP can satisfy the SOF as long as it’s pursuant to the security agreement.
** NB: A super-generic description will NOT work for a security agreement (e.g. “all debtor’s assets”). A categorical description is okay (e.g. “all debtor’s equipment”).
Can a SI cover after-acquired collateral?
Generally, yes.
⚠️ An after-acquired clause is not effective for consumer goods unless the debtor acquries them within 10 days after the SP gives value, or a commercial tort claim.
General rule for attachment and proceeds?
An SI attaches automatically to identifiable proceeds.
(Proceeds are whatever is acquired upon disposition of the collateral.)
What are the duties that arise when a SP possesses or controls collateral?
- Duty of care
- Duty to keep collateral identifiable
- Duty to relinquish possession or control of collateral
What are the rights/risks arising from a SP possessing or controlling collateral?
- Right to charge for reasonable expenses,
- Right to use or operate collateral,
- Right to hold proceeds
⚠️ The risk of loss or damage is on the debtor, not the SP.
What are the rights of the debtor?
The debtor has the right to an accounting and other info from the SP.
What is a PMSI?
A purchase-money security interest in goods exists when:
- a SP gave to the debtor value that’s then used to incur an obligation enabling debtor to acquire goods, or
- a SP sold goods to the debtor who then incurred an obligation to pay the SP all/part of the purchase price
Difference between Accessions and Commingled goods?
Accession = Goods that are physically united with other goods such that the identity of the original goods is not lost.
Commingled goods = goods that are physically united with other goods such that their identity is lost in a product or mass.
What happens with an SI in collateral that then becomes an accession?
What about commingled goods?
SI in collateral that later becomes accession = The SI is not lost due to the collateral becoming an accession; also, an SI can be created in collateral that is an accession.
SI in collateral that later becomes commingled goods = SI is transferred to the resulting product or mass. There’s no SI in specific goods that have been commingled, but an SI may attach to the product or mass that results when the goods are commingled
Methods of perfecting a SI?
Filing,
possession,
control, or
automatically
When is an SI perfected?
Upon attachment of that interest and compliance with a method of perfection (e.g. filing).
What does perfection of an SI do?
Perfection creates superior rights in the collateral for secured party over third parties’ rights in the collateral.
What does filing a financing statement do?
It gives interested parties notice of the existence of the SI.
What collateral can be perfected by filing?
Filing is a method of perfection for any SI except:a deposit account, money, or letter-of-credit rights
What must a financing statement contain?
- Debtor’s name,
- SP’s name, and
- a description* of the collateral.
A financing statement is a notice filing.
* Super-generic descriptions are OK in financing statements.
Which name should you use for the debtor on the financing statement?
(Individuals) Name on the debtor’s current driver’s license or state-issued ID.
(Organizations) Name on public organic records (e.g. articles of incorporation). Do not use trade name (insufficient by itself).
Rules surrounding the change of a debtor’s name?
SP has 4 months to amend the financing statement to account for debtor’s changed name.
If they fail to amend, then collateral acquired by the debtor after the 4-month period is not covered by the financing statement.
Error in debtor’s name on financing statement, what effect?
A financing statement is not effective unless a standard search under the debtor’s correct name would disclose the statement
Error in SP’s name on financing statement, what effect?
Generally, no effect on perfection, but could subject the secured party to estoppel in favor of another claimant
Is a financing statement effective to cover after-acquired property?
What about future advances?
Yes, if the property falls within the description (regardless of whether contemplated at the time of the statement).
(“A financing statement may be effective to cover after-acquired property if such property falls within the collateral described, whether mentioned or even contemplated by the parties at the time the financing statement was authorized.”)
Rules re perfection of SI in proceeds?
An SI in proceeds is perfected even if not mentioned in the financing statement.
For perfected SI, the SI in proceeds remained perfected for 20 days from attachment.
If the original financing statement is broad enough to cover proceeds, or gets amended to cover them within the 20 days, perfection continues in proceeds indefinitely.
Error in description on financing statement? What must SP do?
SP must prepare a termination statement with respect to the erroneous collateral.
Rules re authorization of financing statement?
Debtor has to authorize the financing statement (but this need not be a signature).
“Ipso facto authorization” = the debtor’s authentication of the security agreement serves as authorization to file the financing statement.
The debtor’s consent to the filing is presumed when the SP seeks to perfect an SI in any identifiable proceeds of collateral by filing.
Who can file a financing statement?
Any person. Signature of filer not required.