Tacking: How lenders can protect their future advances

Tacking Made Easy

Tacking is a principle whereby the order of expected priority of interests may be altered in certain circumstances.^[i] It arises in a scenario in which a secured lender is able to ‘tack’ on additional advances to existing securities and take priority over other lenders. This is relevant in situations where there is more than one secured lender over the same asset. A common example of tacking is as follows:

• First legal mortgage is advanced by “A” and then a second (equitable) mortgage is advanced by “B”.
• “A” later advances further money to the owner on security of the same property. This additional advance can be tacked onto the existing mortgage and take priority over “B’s” second mortgage.

This is known as the principle of tacking which when applied correctly can be vastly beneficial for lenders seeking to make further advances.

 The Rule against Tacking

An important consideration for lenders is that the right to tack is negated by actual (not constructive) knowledge or notice of a second secured lender.^[ii] This rule was reinforced by Hopkinson v Rolt (1861) which provided that a first lender does not have the right to tack an additional advance if it has actual notice of any subsequent financier’s security.[iii] This concept is justified by the importance of fairness between competing mortgagees as it is considered unmerited for an earlier lender, after notice or knowledge of a later security, to encroach on the security given to the later lender. However, the rule against tacking is not applicable to all types of security and certain precautions may be taken by lenders to protect their interest.

 Personal Property Security: Protecting Future Advances

The introduction of the Personal Properties Security Act 2009 (Cth) (PPSA) and the repeal of Chapter 2K of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) has permitted the doctrine of tacking in majority of circumstances. Section 18 of the PPSA provides a means for lenders to protect their interest from the possibility of future advances and repeals the rule in Hopkinson v Rolt.[iv] Provided that the security agreement contemplates the provision of future advance, a first lender’s priority will extend to all future advances. However there are two main exceptions where the rule against tacking will apply, including:

1. Priority disputes between two competing transitional security interests under s 323 of the PPSA.[v]
2. Purchase Money Security Interest is a major exception as it has super priority.[vi] Any amount advanced by a subsequent lender with the intention of acquisition funding ensures first priority in relation to the particular assets.

Real Property Securities: Exceptions to the Rule 

While the rule against tacking is precluded from the mechanisms of personal property security, the rule against tacking does apply in relation to real property security. Real property security includes real property instruments such as mortgage loan agreements enforced between lenders and borrowers. However, there are exceptions to this rule against tacking in relation to real property security as were highlighted in Matzner v Clyde Securities Ltd [1975]:[vii]

• The Court affirmed that the rule against tacking should be applied in relation to competing mortgage priorities.
• The rule of tacking does not apply to advances under ‘building mortgages’ whereby the advances are with the intention of improving the property. It must be noted that each advance is to be reflected by an equivalent increase in the sum value of the property.^[viii]
• Based on the pillars of justice and fairness, the decision confirmed that first mortgage is entitled to priority over the subsequent mortgagees for instalment payments.
• Despite notice, advances take priority over later mortgages in instances where further readvances to be tacked would not diminish the value of security available to later mortgagees by an increase in the amount payable under the mortgage.

Typically, the rule of tacking applies to real property security unless it falls under one of the above exemptions whereby the first lender was entitled to priority over subsequent lenders.

 Conclusion: Throwing a priority lifeline to Lenders

As a modern lender, it is important that all priority over security assets are protected. In doing so, it is crucial that key assets and security in loan facilities are identified and protected at the very early stages of negotiation. A Second Lender wishing to protect their interest should make proper enquiries in order to determine the ranking of priority, priority limits and if there is sufficient equity available.

However, out of an abundance of caution, legal advice should always be sought to avoid priority disputes or uncertainty between lenders.

Key takeaways

In moving forward, lenders should be aware of the following key issues:

• despite notice, tacking is permitted in relation to the PPSA, with certain exceptions; and
• the rule against tacking applies to real property security unless it falls under common law exemptions.

In order to ensure that lenders are protecting their interests and security, precautions should be taken at the drafting stage of loan agreements to agree on acceptable priority arrangements.

For further information in relation to this or assistance in protecting your security interest, please contact Greg Conomos.

[i] Mercantile Credits Ltd v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (1988) 48 SASR 407.

[ii] Central Mortgage Registry of Australia v Donemore Pty Ltd [1984] 2 NSWLR 128.

[iii] Hopkinson v Rolt (1861) 11 ER 829 (‘Hopkinson v Rolt’).

[iv] Hopkinson v Rolt (n 3).

[v] Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) s 323.

[vi] Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) s 14(1)(a).

[vii] Matzner v Clyde Securities Ltd [1975] 2 NSWLR 293.

[viii] Bradford Banking Co. Ltd. v Henry Briggs, Son & Co. Ltd. (1886) 12 App. Cas. 29; Deeley v Lloyds Bank Ltd [1912] A.C. 756.