Trustee Representation in Structured Finance Transactions

Abstract

Certain fundamental trustee issues arise in virtually all financings involving a trust structure. Significant concerns for trustees include capacity, indemnification, direction, and limited responsibility. It is vitally important that counsel and other deal parties distinguish between the trust and the individual and trustee capacities of the trustee, and also that they take particular care to limit the power and authority of the trustee such that the trustee’s risk (and associated fee structure) remains low, while allowing the parties with a material interest in the transaction to retain control. A comprehensive understanding of these matters by counsel and other deal parties is critical to ensure an efficient closing.