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Covenant reset meaning

What does Covenant reset mean?
A covenant reset is a negotiated change to the financial covenants in a loan or credit agreement, typically relaxing ratios or timing so a borrower can avoid or remedy a prospective breach during stress, refinancing or restructuring. It is a commercial term of practice rather than one defined in legislation or case law. Key features include revising leverage, interest cover or liquidity covenants; increasing headroom; deferring test dates; granting a covenant “holiday”; or recalibrating EBITDA definitions, add-backs and equity cure mechanics. Lenders commonly seek compensating protections such as higher margins, amendment fees, enhanced reporting, tighter cash controls, additional security/guarantees, or restrictions on distributions and acquisitions. A reset is implemented by a waiver and amendment or an amendment and restatement agreement. Consent thresholds are set by the finance documents: under LMA-style facilities this often requires Majority Lenders’ consent, though some transactions stipulate all-lender consent for covenant changes. Usage and legal effect are broadly consistent across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland, where LMA-based documentation is standard. In practice, a covenant reset is a core tool in consensual workouts and “amend-and-extend” transactions to prevent or cure an Event of Default and preserve going-concern value.
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View the related Practice Notes about Covenant reset

PRACTICE NOTES
A-Z glossary of UK corporate restructuring and insolvency: key terms, procedures, enforcement and cross-border issues

This glossary sets out numerous expressions frequently encountered in the restructuring arena. Words appearing in the definitions in bold are explained in other entries in this glossary. For further banking terminology, see the principal Banking & Finance Glossary. Restructuring glossary—A Acceleration: Acceleration means the agent, acting on directions from the majority lenders after an event of default, takes formal action, for example calling for early repayment of the facility. Ad-hoc committee: A temporary creditors’ group (often contrasted with a formal committee) that lacks any entitlement to official recognition. Administration: A process under the IA 1986 in which a financially distressed company is operated by an administrator as a going concern before longer-term outcomes, such as break-up and sale, are pursued. Administrator: An Insolvency Practitioner named by the court, a Qualifying floating charge holder, the directors or the company, to take control and fulfil one of the purposes in IA 1986, Sch B1. Administrative receivership: Arises when a company breaches the terms of...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK Corporate Debt Restructuring: Key Stages and Options—Waivers/Resets, Rescheduling, LMEs, New Money, Debt‑for‑Equity, Newco Transfers, Asset Sales; Schemes, Restructuring Plans, CVAs and Administrations

There are several avenues for reshaping a company’s debt. The best route will hinge on how severe the company’s financial issues are, the complexity of its funding structures, and whether any creditors are dissenting... What are the key stages in a debt restructuring process? The principal stages are to: stabilise the company (identify key parties and agree a standstill with creditors) prepare for the restructuring (carry out due diligence, develop a business plan and secure a valuation) implement the restructuring A consensual restructuring is generally preferable for cost and speed, though formal procedures (eg company voluntary arrangements (CVAs), restructuring plans, schemes of arrangement or pre-pack administrations) can address dissenting creditors. For details of the key requirements, the core stages, and the stabilising, preparation and implementation phases in the restructuring journey, see Practice Note: Restructuring process...

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PRACTICE NOTES
Comprehensive glossary of UK restructuring and insolvency terms, covering Companies Act schemes, Part 26A plans, IA 1986 processes, and cross‑border concepts including COMI, UNCITRAL and assimilated EU rules.

This glossary sets out numerous expressions regularly encountered in the restructuring & insolvency sphere. Words shown in bold within definitions are themselves explained in other entries in this glossary as well. A Article X The MLIJ contains a single provision named Article X, aimed at jurisdictions that have already implemented the MLCBI, like England, or are weighing its adoption. Article X states: ‘Not withstanding any prior interpretation to the contrary, the relief available under [insert a cross-reference to the legislation of this State enacting Article 21 of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency] includes recognition and enforcement of a judgment’ (see Practice Note: UNCITRAL model law on recognition and enforcement of insolvency-related judgments (MLIJ): Article X). Asset-backed security (ABS) A form of security anchored by asset pools, for example loans, leases, and credit card receivables. Assimilated law From 1 January 2024, ‘retained law’ has been retitled ‘assimilated law’. The body of domestic law originally arising from EU obligations, created by the European...

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