How to add a loan in Carta Loan Ops
Before you begin
Use this guide to add a new loan to Carta Loan Operations. Before you begin, have your loan agreement on hand. You will need the borrower name, closing date, total commitment amount, currency, interest rate terms, and any fee structures.
How to enter general loan details
From the Loans page, select Add Loan. The wizard opens at the Welcome screen. To resume a saved draft, select Load Draft.
In the General step, enter the closing date (required).
Select the default currency for the loan.
Optionally, add tags to categorize the loan in your portfolio.
Select Next to continue.
How to add parties
The Parties step identifies the key entities involved in the loan.
Select the borrower from the dropdown. If adding a new borrower, select Add Borrower.
Select your firm's primary lending entity for this deal from the Lead Lender dropdown.
If the loan has an administrative agent separate from the lead lender, select them from the Agent dropdown.
Select Next to continue.
How to set up the loan structure
Each loan has one or more structures that define how the facility is organized.
- Select Add structure.
- Enter a name for the structure.
- Select the structure type.
- Set the commitment period amount (the total amount available under this facility).
- Repeat for additional structures if your deal has more than one.
- Select Next to continue.
How to add advances and interest rate settings
Advances represent individual drawdowns within a structure. Each advance has its own interest rate settings.
- Select Add advance.
- Enter the advance's effective date.
- Set the interest rate:
- For a variable rate advance, select the benchmark rate and enter the credit spread.
- For a fixed rate advance, enter the all-in rate.
- Enter the first interest payment date.
- Set the accrual frequency and payment frequency.
- If the advance uses PIK, configure the PIK frequency.
- Add lender positions (tranche contributions) for each lender in the advance.
- Repeat for additional advances.
- Select Next to continue.
How to add fees
Add any fees associated with the loan, such as arrangement fees, ticking fees, unused fees, or prepayment premiums. If the loan has no fees, you can skip this step.
- Select Add fee.
- Enter a name for the fee.
- Select the fee type and configure the amount or rate.
- Set the payment frequency and any applicable PIK settings.
- Repeat for additional fees.
- Select Next to continue.
Review and submit
Review the full summary of the loan, including the borrower details, structure, advances, interest rate settings, and fees.
- Check each section for accuracy.
- If anything needs to be corrected, use the back button to return to that step.
- Select Save, then confirm by selecting Submit to create the loan.
Once submitted, the loan is live in Carta Loan Operations and the payment schedule is generated automatically.