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Asset-Based LendingIndustrial ManufacturingSweden / Norway / Denmark

€120M Cross-Border ABL for Nordic Carve-Out

Revolving ABL with a pan-Nordic borrowing base, 85% AR / 65% inventory advance rates, €15M seasonal overadvance, and a 5-year term—supporting an industrial carve-out across three jurisdictions.

Deal Overview

Transaction TypeABL
Facility Size€120M
SectorIndustrial Manufacturing
Advance Rates85% AR / 65% Inventory
Term5 years
StructureRevolving ABL
JurisdictionsSweden / Norway / Denmark
ClosingQ1 2024

The Challenge

A Nordic-focused sponsor carved out a regional manufacturing business operating across three countries, requiring a working capital facility aligned to seasonal inventory and receivables cycles—and executable without trapping liquidity by entity.

Key complexity factors included:

  • Cross-border borrowing base requiring coordinated collateral eligibility, reserves, and monitoring
  • Different security and perfection regimes under Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish law
  • Seasonal volatility with peak working capital demand during the production cycle
  • Field examination and appraisal requirements across multiple sites and jurisdictions

Our Solution

We structured a €120M revolving ABL with an aggregated Nordic borrowing base, clear advance rates, and reporting mechanics that matched how the business actually operates.

Structure

  • Pan-Nordic borrowing base aggregating eligible receivables and inventory across Sweden, Norway, and Denmark
  • Advance rates of 85% on eligible AR and 65% on eligible inventory (after customary reserves)
  • €15M overadvance to bridge seasonal peaks without restructuring the facility
  • Springing fixed charge covenant tied to overadvance usage

Execution

  • 8-week timeline with coordinated Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish counsel and security opinions
  • Field exams and inventory appraisals completed pre-closing across manufacturing locations
  • Enterprise asset pledge (Swedish företagshypotek) with aligned Norwegian and Danish security
  • Automated borrowing base reporting integrated with ERP for timely availability

Deal Structure

Borrowing base

Eligible AR85% advance
Eligible inventory65% advance
Overadvance€15M
Availability block€10M

Covenants

  • Fixed charge coverage: 1.1x (springing)
  • Reporting: Weekly borrowing base certification
  • Field exams: Bi-annual across jurisdictions
  • Appraisals: Annual third-party inventory valuations

Key Documentation

ABL Credit Agreement

Revolving facility with cross-border borrowing base mechanics, Nordic-tailored eligibility criteria, reserves, and overadvance provisions.

Security Package

Swedish företagshypotek and aligned Norwegian and Danish charges, with account control arrangements on collection accounts where required.

Intercreditor (ABL / Cash Flow)

Intercreditor between the ABL and a covenant-lite term loan, covering priority, permitted payments, and enforcement standstills.

Borrowing Base Certificate

Weekly certificate template with ERP-linked reporting, dilution tracking, and concentration limits by customer and jurisdiction.

Transaction Timeline

1-2
Weeks 1-2

Collateral & term sheet

Collateral assessment, initial field work, and agreed ABL structure and advance mechanics

3-5
Weeks 3-5

Due diligence & documentation

Facility documentation, diligence, and borrowing base modeling across three jurisdictions

6-7
Weeks 6-7

Security perfection

Execution and perfection steps under Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish law with local counsel sign-off

8
Week 8

Closing

Closing, initial availability, and borrowing base reporting go-live

Outcome

The facility closed on plan, giving the business predictable liquidity through seasonal swings while preserving a clean cross-border collateral framework.

Post-closing benefits:

  • Seasonal flexibility: Overadvance supported peak working capital needs without ad-hoc waivers or emergency amendments.
  • Operational efficiency: Automated borrowing base reporting reduced manual workload and improved real-time visibility of availability.
  • Cross-border optimization: A single aggregated base improved cash efficiency versus siloed, jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction facilities.

Discuss your financing needs

TULA Capital supports complex cross-border financing across jurisdictions and asset classes.

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