As you know, a fixed term loan will have a set rate of interest set for the duration of the loan – set and forget, if you will. Whereas a floating term loan has a variable rate. Based on current wholesale rates this rate is usually cheaper than the fixed rate, however, you take a risk that the interest rate may go up in the future.

A key advantage of the floating term loan is that it can typically be repaid early at no additional cost while the fixed rate loan may incur break costs if you repay it early.

With any loan, the key is to balance the loan structure – you need to ensure your cash flow demands align with the economic life of the asset in the task the asset is performing. We frequently see companies get this wrong – there’s either too much pressure on their cash flow because the term of their loan is too short, or we see them losing equity because the term is set too long.

What type of loan and loan structure suits your business best? Talk to your business partner at Finance New Zealand about the options – their advantages and risks.

This newsletter is intended to provide general information on asset finance, equipment and fleet finance, and plant and machinery finance that is general in nature. It should not be taken as a substitute for legal or accounting advice. For more information, speak to your business partner at Finance New Zealand.