Use Independent Business Valuation Services To Reduce Litigation Risk When Enforcing Equity Linked Loan Covenants

March 12,2023 03:36 AM

CFOs And Lending Institution Leaders. Take Away How To Use Independent Equity Valuation Services To Reduce Litigation Risk When Enforcing Equity Linked Loan Covenants.

IKT Business Valuations offers independent valuations of equity for private companies. Lending Institution Leaders mitigate your risk of breaching fiduciary duty to your investors by engaging IKT Business Valuations to assess your current exposure within your equity linked loan portfolio. Contact Ian Kelly-Thomas, CEO at (858) 358-6604 to learn more about reducing your litigation risk from borrowers who contend your right to enforce equity linked loan covenants and how to mitigate your risk of breaching your fiduciary duty to your investors by not assessing your exposure to equity linked loans within your lending portfolio.


Using a professional equity valuation can be a useful tool to reduce litigation risk when enforcing equity-based loan covenants. Here are a few ways that a professional equity valuation can help:

  1. Provide objective evidence: A professional equity valuation can provide objective evidence of the value of the borrower's equity. This can help to support the lender's decision to enforce the equity-based loan covenants and reduce the risk of litigation.

  2. Demonstrate compliance with the loan agreement: By conducting a professional equity valuation, the lender can demonstrate that it is complying with the terms of the loan agreement, which may require the borrower to maintain a certain level of equity. This can help to reduce the risk of litigation by showing that the lender is acting in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement.

  3. Identify potential issues: A professional equity valuation can also help to identify potential issues that may arise when enforcing the equity-based loan covenants. For example, the valuation may reveal that the borrower's equity is worth less than the loan amount, which could make it difficult for the lender to recover its investment. By identifying these issues in advance, the lender can take steps to mitigate its risk and reduce the risk of litigation.

  4. Provide a basis for negotiation: Finally, a professional equity valuation can provide a basis for negotiation between the lender and borrower. For example, if the valuation reveals that the borrower's equity is worth less than the loan amount, the lender may be willing to negotiate a settlement that is less than the full amount owed. By using a professional valuation to support its position, the lender may be able to negotiate a settlement without resorting to litigation.

Overall, a professional equity valuation can be a valuable tool for reducing litigation risk when enforcing equity-based loan covenants. By providing objective evidence, demonstrating compliance with the loan agreement, identifying potential issues, and providing a basis for negotiation, a professional valuation can help to protect the lender's investment and reduce the risk of litigation.


Enforcing equity-based loan covenants can be justified on several grounds. Here are a few reasons why such covenants may be enforced:

  1. Protecting the lender's investment: Equity-based loan covenants are designed to protect the lender's investment by ensuring that the borrower maintains certain financial ratios or meets other performance benchmarks. By enforcing these covenants, the lender can reduce the risk of default and protect its investment.

  2. Promoting financial stability: Enforcing equity-based loan covenants can also promote financial stability by encouraging borrowers to maintain sound financial practices. By requiring the borrower to meet certain financial ratios or performance benchmarks, the lender can encourage the borrower to maintain financial stability and avoid financial distress.

  3. Ensuring fair treatment of all parties: Enforcing equity-based loan covenants can also ensure fair treatment of all parties involved. If the borrower fails to meet the covenant requirements, enforcing the covenants can prevent the borrower from receiving preferential treatment over other creditors or investors.

  4. Maintaining the integrity of the loan agreement: Enforcing equity-based loan covenants can also help maintain the integrity of the loan agreement. If the lender does not enforce the covenants, it may send a signal to other borrowers that it is willing to overlook covenant breaches. This could lead to other borrowers failing to meet their covenant requirements, which could ultimately undermine the integrity of the loan agreement.

Overall, enforcing equity-based loan covenants can help protect the lender's investment, promote financial stability, ensure fair treatment of all parties, and maintain the integrity of the loan agreement.


IKT Business Valuations offers independent valuations of equity for private companies. Lending Institution Leaders mitigate your risk of breaching fiduciary duty to your investors by engaging IKT Business Valuations to assess your current exposure within your equity linked loan portfolio. Contact Ian Kelly-Thomas, CEO at (858) 358-6604 to learn more about reducing your litigation risk from borrowers who contend your right to enforce equity linked loan covenants and how to mitigate your risk of breaching your fiduciary duty to your investors by not assessing your exposure to equity linked loans within your lending portfolio.

Ian Kelly-Thomas