Loan Syndication vs. Consortium: An Overview

A loan syndication and consortium may sound the same but there are structural and operational differences between the two. A loan syndication is a group of lenders that offer a large loan to a borrower. As such, a syndicate loan is one large loan with multiple lenders that provide a portion of it. A consortium, on the other hand, is a group of individuals or entities that pool their resources toward a given objective. A consortium is usually governed by a legal contract that delegates responsibilities among its members.

Loan Syndication

A loan syndication involves multiple lenders and a single borrower. The syndication is headed by a lead bank that is approached by the borrower to 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:arrange credit for major projects, equipment purchases, and 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:merger and acquisition (M&A) deals. The managing bank is generally responsible for negotiating conditions and arranging the syndicate. In retur🌸n, the borrower generally pays the lead bank a fee.

Loan syndication is the most common way for corporations to seek financing from banks and other lenders. In Europe, loan syndication is primarily driven by private equity sponsors, while in the U.S., corporate borrowers and private equity sponsors drive the loan syndication market in equal measures.

The lead bank in a loan syndication is not necessarily the majority lender. Any of the participating banks may be the largest lender, even if they are not the lead bank, depending on how the 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:credit agreement is drawn up.

Because loans involve very large sums of money, there is a considerable amount of risk that comes with lending 🍰to the borrower. One lender would assume a great deal of risk. But, multiple lenders participating in a syndicate spread out the risk in case the borrower defaults.

Consortium

Consortium financing occurs for transactions that may not take place with a single lender. Several banks agree to jointly supervise a single borrower with a common appraisal, documentation,🃏 and follow-up. These lenders own equal shares in the transaction. Unlike a syndication, there is not one lead bank that manages the financing project. Instead, all of the banks play an equal role in managing the project.

Consortiums are not built to handle international transactions like a syndication l🐽oan. Instead, it may arise because the size of the project is simply too large or too risky for a single lender to assume. While loan syndications typically work across borders and may handle financing in diff𒆙erent currencies, consortiums typically occur within the boundaries of a given nation.

Sometimes the participating banks form a new 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:consortium bank that functions by 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:leveraging assets from each institution and disbands after the project is complete. By allowing all of the members to pool their assets,꧑ consortiums allow smaller banks to tackle larger projects.

Key Differences

The Bottom Line

A company that requires a large loan for a project or deal may seek financing through a loꦅan syndication or consortium. A syndication involves multiple banks that come together, spread the risk, and offer one loan to the borrower. A consortium, on the other hand, occurs when several banks form a collaborative agreement and have equal ownership in their lending agreement with the borrower.