Project Finance Lawyer Explains California Loan Security and Cash Flow

An SPV typically holds assets and signs the construction, operating, and loan agreements. Separate records and limits on unrelated debt matter; formation alone does not make it bankruptcy-remote. Broader infrastructure finance arrangements may add concession or public-sector obligations.

Nonrecourse loans may still include completion guarantees, equity commitments, or misconduct carveouts. Identify who pays, what triggers liability, whether it is capped, and when release takes effect. Limited recourse does not mean no sponsor obligations. If a carveout changes a loss-based obligation into liability for the full debt, its trigger deserves particular scrutiny.

An offtake contract, lease, or concession may underpin revenue. Deductions, termination rights, counterparty credit, and term length affect debt service. When lenders take payment claims as collateral, receivables financing questions arise alongside the primary loan.

A waterfall can allocate receipts to operating costs, debt service, and reserves before sponsor distributions. Coverage tests and cash traps may block distributions despite reported profits. Compare account instructions with loan covenants. A permitted transfer under one document may still breach a distribution restriction elsewhere.

A deed of trust covering land in California typically is recorded in the property's county to establish notice and address priority. Article 9 collateral such as equipment and receivables often requires a security agreement and financing statement, subject to exceptions. Fixtures and equity pledges may call for further steps. Title and UCC searches answer different questions. Search results also need to be compared with the actual grant of collateral and any priority agreements.

Where California law governs, Commercial Code §§ 9312(b)(1) and 9314 generally require control to perfect an interest in a deposit account as original collateral; proceeds are treated differently. Section 9104 permits a signed bank control agreement. A UCC-1 filing alone does not suffice. Under § 9304, the bank's jurisdiction governs perfection and priority, not the project's address. If that jurisdiction is not California, its law must be checked. Control also affects competing claims; the depositary bank may have priority under § 9327.

Pledging a contract does not make the lender a replacement operator. Direct agreements may provide notice, cure, and substitution rights. Review consent and termination clauses where contracts, permits, or concessions limit transfers. A lender's ability to cure a default and its ability to operate the project are different questions.

Coverage ratios, debt limits, reserves, and consent rights govern operations. The definition of cash available for debt service and test dates may matter more than a headline ratio. Mixed lenders may require private credit and intercreditor terms governing consent and payment priority.

Completion support may remain after construction ends until contractual performance or acceptance tests are met. Check covered costs, contribution caps, release evidence, and other surviving guarantees. A release signed by one creditor may not discharge a separate promise made to another.

Commercial Code §§ 9301 and 9307 set debtor-location rules for certain Article 9 interests, with exceptions. A registered organization is generally located in its state of organization. Real-property priority instead calls for county-record review. Related commercial real estate finance diligence also covers fixtures and competing claims.

Match the loan borrower with the owner of pledged assets and party entitled to revenue. Confirm descriptions, account-control terms, consents, and payment instructions after default. An assignment offers little if the contract ends before lender rights can be exercised. Track any notice period and the identity of the party authorized to approve a transfer.

Trace one payment from customer to borrower, collection account, operating waterfall, and lender. Where that route differs from the financial model, check consents, account control, and distribution restrictions.

A closing review should identify missing signatures, filings, recordings, and bank arrangements, plus unclear sponsor-release terms. Keep financial-close requirements distinct from later draw conditions. Resolve specific gaps before describing the security package as complete.