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Drop downs and up-tiers in English law loan documentation

8 April 2024 / Author(s): Peter Hayes
Issue: April 2024 / Categories: Feature
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Over the past few years there has been a focus on whether loan documentation can be used to create additional priority debt, often as a result of transactions that were not anticipated by incumbent lenders. Various labels have been attached to these types of transaction, with the following becoming common currency: “drop down” and “up-tiering” transactions. While they have different component parts, they result in participating creditors gaining a priority position viz-à-viz other creditors in the borrower’s capital structure. A number of articles discussing aspects of these transactions have been circulated by market participants and the LSTA has published a very helpful market advisory on drafting for New York law credit agreements. This article takes a look at these topics in English law documentation.

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