secured transactions Flashcards
secured transaction*
a transaction intended to create a security interest in personal property or fixtures
generally to secure a sale on credit or a loan
sale on credit
sale where buyer does not pay full purchase price at time of sale- buyer provides a down payment and pays the rest of the price over time
debtor
person who owes payment or performance of the secured obligation (person who owes the money)
secured party
lender, seller, other person in whose favor there is a security interest (person the money is owed to)
unsecured creditor
person who makes a loan without taking any security interest
secured creditor
a creditor with a security interest- I.e. special collection rights
security agreement*
agreement between debtor and secured party that creates the security interest
security interest
interest in personal property or fixtures to secure payment or performance. a contingent property interest granted to the creditor.
the creditor has rights upon default (the contingency) and no rights until then. upon default, the creditor has the right to repossess and sell the personal property/fixture.
collateral*
the property subject to the security interest, which the secured party can repossess upon default
purchase money security interest- types *
1) seller financed PMSI- a) secured party sells debtor collateral on credit and b) retains a security interest in the item sold for the part of the purchase price not yet paid
2) financer-financed PMSI-a) loan to buy specific collateral from a 3rd party seller, b) buyer uses the loan funds to buy that collateral, c) creditor takes security interest in the collateral for the part of the purchase price that has not yet been paid
In a financier financed pmsi, if the buyer does not use the lender’s money to buy the item, what results?*
there is still a security interest but it is not a PMSI because the loaned money was not used
after-acquired property clause in a security agreement*
allows the secured party to obtain a security interest in property acquired by the debtor in the future
future advance clause*
allows the lender to use same collateral as security for future loans from the lender
attachment- defined *
steps necessary to create a security interest effective against the debtor
creditor is not a secured creditor until attachment
perfection- definition and requirements*
gives the creditor rights in the security interest as against other creditors. gives notice of the creditor’s security interest to the rest of the world.
requirements
1. creditor’s rights have attached
2. creditor has taken an additional step to notify third parties, or automatic perfection applies
financing statement
document typically used to provide notice of the security interest. filed in the public records.
types of collateral*
perfection requirements differ based on the type
- goods
- intangible/ semi-intangible collateral
good
tangible, movable personal property
consumer goods*
goods used or bought for use primarily for personal, family, or household purposes
(example: a guitar bought for recreational use)
equipment*
used or bought for use in a business (this is a default or catch-all category so it doesn’t necessarily have to be used in business)
example: guitar bought for use by a professional musician, bc used in his profession as a musician
farm products*
crops, livestocks, supplies used or produced in farming operations or
products of crops or livestock (eggs, milk, maple syrup)
if in possession of debtor engaged in farming operations
inventory*
good held by the debtor for sale or lease
goods furnished under service contracts, or
materials used or consumed in a business in a short period of time (raw materials)
ex: milk sold by a restaurant or used as an ingredient in cooking, or milk sold by a grocery store, or a Hertz rental car
instruments
documents containing a creditor’s right to be paid money. ex: checks, promissory note
document
a document representing the right to receive good (bills of lading, warehouse receipt)
chattel paper
document evidencing a monetary obligation and a security interest in or a lease of specific goods (promissory note + security agreement)
investment property
stocks and bonds
accounts
right to payment for property sold or services rendered (account receivable)
deposit accounts
business account maintained with a bank
commercial tort claim
tort claim where the claimant is an organization or individual, the claim arose out of the claimant’s business or profession and does not include damages for personal injury or death
general intangible
patents, copyrights, licenses, etc
payment intangible
a general intangible (patents, copyrights, goodwill) under which account debtor’s principal obligation is a monetary obligation
does a contract that creates a lien in property without calling itself a security interest trigger article 9?*
yes- for example: lease of warehouse space with security interest in the property stored
sale with security interest disguised as a lease*
lease is subject to article 9 if the substance of the transaction has to be more of a sale- ask if when the item goes back to the other party, it will still have economic value. in leases the property has meaningful economic value when it is returned to the landlord; in a sale the buyer will use up all the economic value (big hint is option to purchase for a very low price, or being obligated to renew it so that it will be leased for whole time it has economic value)
attachment requirements*
1 security agreement evidenced by
A) written or electronic record that is authenticated by debtor
B) creditor has possession of the collateral pursuant to an oral agreement
C) creditor has control over the collateral
2 value given by secured party- consideration, even past consideration
3 value given by debtor- consideration is the promise to give a security interest
4 debtor has rights in collateral- owns or leases the collateral
security agreement requirements*
1 record that shows an intent to create security interest
2 authenticated (signed) by the debtor- any symbol with intent to authenticate
3 description of the collateral- must reasonably identify the collateral (ex: computers; “all debtor’s property” DOES NOT WORK)
general rule about which property is subject to a security interest & exception*
the security agreement only reaches the property that the debtor has rights in at the time the agreement is signed
exceptions- security interest will automatically attach to:
1. after acquired inventory and accounts are implicitly included (because it turns over rapidly)
2. identifiable* proceeds of sold original collateral, or insurance payments payable to the debtor for destroyed original collateral
*burden is on secured creditor to prove this by tracing. this is a problem if paid cash & deposited into commingled account, but creditor can still trace by lowest intermediate balance test
lowest intermediate balance test
when proceeds of collateral have been commingled with non-proceeds, the proceeds are assumed to be the lowest balance during the time period between when the proceeds were deposited and ending when the rule is applied
but if the lowest balance exceeds the value of the proceeds deposited, the creditor just takes the proceeds deposited
if a debtor has a guarantor or surety for an obligation, will a security interest in that obligation reach the guarantor or surety?
yes, this is automatic
PMSI in consumer goods perfection*
PMSI in consumer goods are automatically perfected (but they can still lose to buyers if they don’t file)
methods of perfection*
1 taking possession (called a pledge)- usually goods. perfection happens when creditor takes possession
2 acquiring control- can do this with deposit account, investment property, chattel paper
3 for vehicles (regardless of personal or business use), putting a notation on the vehicle’s title
4 by a filing
can perfection and attachment be simultaneous?
yes, for example if the security agreement under attachment is satisfied by taking possession
Ways to achieve perfection by control over deposit account*
a) a bank maintaining a deposit account will automatically have control over it
b) putting the deposit account in the secured party’s name
(note this is also the way to get control over electronic chattel paper)
c) control agreement- contract between debtor, secured creditor, and bank maintaining the deposit account requiring the bank to pay the account funds to the creditor if debtor defaults
(note this is similar to investment property control- agreement there must allow creditor to sell it w/o further debtor consent)