UCC search complications - debtor entity keeps changing names
Having a nightmare with UCC searches right now. We're dealing with a commercial borrower that's gone through three different entity names over the past 18 months, and I'm trying to make sure we haven't missed any existing liens before we file our UCC-1. The problem is each name variation pulls up different results when I search, and I'm not confident we're getting the complete picture. Has anyone dealt with this kind of debtor-name evolution issue? I'm worried about missing a prior filing that could affect our lien priority. The entity started as ABC Manufacturing LLC, then became ABC Manufacturing Solutions LLC, then most recently changed to ABC Industrial Solutions LLC. Each search pulls different hits and I can't tell if some of these are the same entity or different ones entirely. Any tips for comprehensive UCC searches when dealing with name changes?
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Natasha Petrova
Oh man, this is exactly why I always run multiple search variations. You're right to be concerned - missing an existing UCC could really mess up your priority position. I usually search every possible name combination including abbreviated versions, with and without LLC designations, and also try searching by the registered agent if I can find that info.
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Oliver Fischer
•Good point about the registered agent searches. I hadn't thought of that approach. Do you find that catches filings that name-based searches miss?
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Natasha Petrova
•Sometimes yeah, especially if there were typos in the original filing or if they used a slightly different name variation. It's not foolproof but it's another data point.
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Javier Morales
This is a pain point I've dealt with too many times. The search logic varies by state and some are more forgiving than others when it comes to name variations. Have you tried searching with just the core business name without the entity designation? Sometimes that brings up filings under multiple entity types.
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Oliver Fischer
•I tried ABC Manufacturing and got even more results, but now I'm not sure which ones are actually related to our borrower. It's like opening a can of worms.
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Emma Davis
•That's the trade-off - broader searches give you more potential matches but also more false positives. You have to cross-reference with addresses, tax IDs, whatever identifying info you have.
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Javier Morales
•Exactly. I usually create a spreadsheet with all the potential matches and then verify each one against known entity details. Time consuming but necessary for due diligence.
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GalaxyGlider
I had a similar situation last month and ended up using Certana.ai's document verification tool. You can upload multiple UCC search results and it helps cross-reference the entity details to identify which filings actually relate to your debtor. Saved me hours of manual comparison and caught a continuation filing I would have missed otherwise.
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Oliver Fischer
•That sounds useful. Did it help with the name variation issue specifically or just the document comparison part?
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GalaxyGlider
•Both actually. It flagged potential matches based on address info and other entity details even when the names didn't match exactly. Plus it organized everything so I could see the filing timeline clearly.
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Malik Robinson
Don't forget to check if any of these entities have been merged or acquired. Sometimes name changes are part of corporate restructuring and there might be assignment filings you need to account for. Also worth checking if there are any UCC-3 terminations that might clear prior liens.
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Oliver Fischer
•Good call. How do you typically track down merger or acquisition info? Is that something that shows up in UCC filings or do you have to look elsewhere?
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Malik Robinson
•UCC-3 assignments will show up in the filing system, but for the underlying corporate changes you might need to check Secretary of State records for entity status changes. Sometimes the UCC filing will reference the underlying transaction.
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Isabella Silva
•Also check if there are any federal tax liens or judgments under the various names. Those don't always show up in UCC searches but can affect your priority.
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Ravi Choudhury
THIS IS WHY I HATE ENTITY NAME CHANGES. The system should require some kind of cross-reference filing when entities change names but noooo, we just have to guess and hope we find everything. I've been burned by this before when a prior lender had a UCC under an old name that didn't come up in my search.
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Freya Andersen
•I feel your pain. It's especially frustrating when you're dealing with tight closing deadlines and have to spend extra time on searches that should be straightforward.
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Ravi Choudhury
•Exactly! And then you have to explain to the client why the search took longer and cost more. Meanwhile the borrower is like 'what's the big deal, it's the same company' - NO IT'S NOT THE SAME NAME ON THE FILING.
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Omar Farouk
Have you considered getting a professional search company involved? For complex situations like this, sometimes it's worth paying for a comprehensive search service that has experience with these kinds of name variations. They usually have better search tools and know the tricks for each state's system.
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Oliver Fischer
•I might have to go that route if I can't get comfortable with what I'm finding. Do you have any recommendations for search companies that handle this kind of complexity well?
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Omar Farouk
•I've had good luck with a couple of the national services, but honestly for ongoing deals I've started using automated tools more. Less expensive than ordering searches for every variation.
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CosmicCadet
•Second the automation approach. I tried doing manual searches for a while but the time cost was killing me, especially for portfolio deals with multiple entities.
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Chloe Harris
One thing to watch out for - make sure you're searching under the exact legal name as it appears on the entity's formation documents. Sometimes what the borrower tells you they're called isn't exactly what's on file with the state. I learned this the hard way when I missed a UCC because the borrower said they were 'XYZ Corp' but they were actually filed as 'XYZ Corporation'.
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Oliver Fischer
•Good point. I should probably verify the exact entity names with the Secretary of State records before I finish my searches. Better safe than sorry.
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Chloe Harris
•Definitely. And if you find any discrepancies between what the borrower says and what's on file, that's a red flag that needs to be resolved before you file your UCC-1.
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Diego Mendoza
Also don't forget about doing searches on any parent companies or subsidiaries. If ABC Manufacturing was part of a larger corporate structure, there might be blanket liens or cross-collateralization that affects your position even if there's nothing filed directly against your borrower entity.
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Anastasia Popova
•This is a really good point that gets overlooked. Corporate guarantees and cross-default provisions can make other entities' UCCs relevant to your deal.
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Diego Mendoza
•Exactly. I've seen deals where the borrower looked clean but the parent company had a blanket UCC that covered subsidiaries. Always worth checking the corporate structure.
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Oliver Fischer
•I hadn't thought about parent company liens. This is getting more complicated than I expected, but I appreciate all the guidance.
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Sean Flanagan
Just went through something similar with a client who had multiple entity names. Ended up using one of those document comparison tools where you upload the search results and it flags potential duplicates or related filings. Found two UCCs I would have missed doing manual searches. Worth the investment for peace of mind.
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Zara Shah
•Which tool did you use? I've been thinking about trying some of the automated options but wasn't sure which ones actually work well for UCC searches.
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Sean Flanagan
•I used Certana.ai - you just upload the PDFs of your search results and it cross-references everything. Pretty straightforward and caught the connections I missed.
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NebulaNomad
Update us when you figure this out! I have a similar situation coming up with a borrower that's gone through several name changes and I'm dreading the search process. Would love to know what approach ends up working best for you.
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Oliver Fischer
•Will do. Based on all the advice here I'm going to try a combination of broader searches, entity record verification, and probably one of the automated comparison tools. I'll report back on what I find.
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Luca Ferrari
•Good luck! This kind of thorough searching is exactly why UCC due diligence takes longer than clients expect, but it's so important to get it right.
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