Risk Management Blog

You would think that something called Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) would be uniform throughout the states, right? If only it were. As folks who regularly file UCC filings nationwide know, Uniform Commercial Code varies widely from state to state. In Georgia, for instance, you have to pick a county in which to file even though all UCC filings are recorded in a centralized statewide database. In order to file a UCC-3, you need to make… >> READ MORE

We try to cover a wide range of topics on the First Corporate Solutions blog. Our approach is to identify the questions we hear customers and prospects pose most frequently and address those areas of confusion proactively on the blog. This week we respond by sharing some additional information and resource outlets regarding UCC & corporate due diligence. State and County Websites When you need to perform a search or submit a filing… >> READ MORE

You've made it to the final blog post in our series on control agreements for pledged securities accounts, written by attorney Bennett Cohen of Cohen, Salk & Huvard P.C. For more information about his law firm, please see the website here. This blog post series is informational in nature and is not intended to constitute, nor should it be relied upon as, legal advice to any recipient. Additional Provisions That Should be Contained… >> READ MORE

Could you use a refresher on UCC filing rules? You’re in luck! This week, we welcome guest author, attorney, Bennett L. Cohen to the blog! Read on for the first installment in his three-part blog series detailing the basic filing rules under Revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. A Review of the Basic Filing Rules: UCC Financing Statements It is vitally important that UCC filers understand and observe the basic UCC filing… >> READ MORE

Under Revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, secured parties are permitted to pre-file UCC Financing Statements, meaning they may file their UCC document before official execution of the security agreement provided the secured party receives proper authorization from the borrower. This week, we welcome Steve Capper of Flexible Funding as a guest author on the FCS blog. In this piece, Steve offers some words of caution for borrowers… >> READ MORE

Many small businesses have an internal department that handles all of their public records search and filing needs. As businesses grow and due diligence requirements get more complex, most decide to enlist the help of a private service company to carry out their public records checks and requests. Deciding which company to entrust with your business can be a tough choice. Between nationwide and local vendors, there are hundreds (if not… >> READ MORE

The collateral description is a critical piece of a UCC Financing Statement. This section is where a secured party details what items the debtor has offered as collateral to secure the loan. In many cases, secured parties elect to put their collateral description on an attachment rather than within the confines of Box 4 on the UCC Financing Statement form. Attachment pages are particularly common when the transaction requires a lengthy equipment… >> READ MORE

One of the most common areas of confusion relating to public records searching has to do with the costs incurred for search requests, particularly those requests that a customer places with a private service company. The fees associated with this type of research are varied and an invoice may use terminology that is unfamiliar to those with infrequent searching needs. Herein, we offer some guidelines for what types of fees you can expect… >> READ MORE

Today, more than ever, lenders are focused on minimizing their risks when entering a financial transaction. As pandemic impacts continue to mitigate, many financial institutions are now reducing their risk forecast for loan defaults. The upbeat sentiments are welcome but the times remain unprecedented, and uncertainty remains on what lies ahead. Two key components in the lenders’ due diligence process when entering a transaction… >> READ MORE

A UCC report will look different and may contain slightly different information depending on where the search was performed and by whom. As a result, it can be challenging to make sense of a UCC search report if you are unfamiliar with how to “read” it. Knowing that an accurate interpretation of the UCC data that is reported to you is critical to the success of your business, we offer the following tips for how to read a UCC search report. Review… >> READ MORE