Recharacterization Risks: Beware!

To the unwary, Revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code may pose significant risks. The Article is intended to cover all transactions, <i>regardless of form</i>, that in economic substance create a security interest. Using this broad policy mandate, courts have frequently disregarded many different transaction forms that, on their face, were documented to appear to be outside the scope of Revised Article 9. When this occurs the party that is deemed a secured lender in the recharacterized transaction will face losing substantial rights &mdash; unless that party complied with Article 9's perfection rules, which typically require the filing of a financing statement.

10 minute read September 11, 2003 at 11:29 AM
By
John P. Amato
Recharacterization Risks: Beware!

This is the first of a two-part article

To the unwary, Revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code may pose significant risks. The Article is intended to cover all transactions, regardless of form, that in economic substance create a security interest.

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