Floating charge

A floating charge is a security interest over a fund of changing assets of a company or other artificial person, which 'floats' or 'hovers' until the point at which it is converted into a fixed charge, at which point the charge attaches to specific assets of the business. This conversion of the floating charge into a fixed charge (called "crystallisation") can be triggered by a number of events. In most common law jurisdictions it is an implied term in security documents creating floating charges that a cessation of the company's right to deal with the assets (including by reason of insolvency proceedings) in the ordinary course of business leads to automatic crystallisation. Additionally, security documents will usually include express terms that a default by the person granting the security will trigger crystallisation.