Asset-Based Lending (ABL)
Deep Dives
Related Terms
Asset-Based Finance (ABF)
Financing where repayment is primarily sourced from cash flows generated by a specific pool of financial or real assets, rather than from the general operating cash flows of the borrower. Broader than ABS: includes private bilateral loans, warehouse facilities, forward-flow agreements, SRT structures, and publicly issued securities.
Borrowing Base
The maximum loan amount a borrower may draw under a revolving credit facility, calculated as the sum of eligible collateral values multiplied by applicable advance rates. Distinct from a fixed loan: availability fluctuates as collateral values change; monthly BBC certification is standard.
Advance Rate
The percentage of eligible collateral value that lenders will fund against; reflects the expected recovery rate in a stress liquidation scenario. Accounts receivable: 70–85%; inventory: 40–65%; equipment: 60–75%; real property: 50–65%.
Warehouse Facility
A revolving credit facility that funds asset origination before the assets are securitised or sold; the warehouse lender holds a first-priority lien on the asset pool. A temporary funding mechanism — not a permanent funding structure.