In Canada, the Personal Property Security Act (PPSA) is the nearest equivalent to the UCC.
A security agreement is a document that provides a lender a security interest in a specified asset or property that is pledged as collateral. Security agreements often contain covenants that outline provisions for the advancement of funds, a repayment schedule, or insurance requirements.
Three steps are required for attachment of a security interest: value has been given, the debtor has rights in the collateral or the power to transfer rights in the collateral to the secured party, and the debtor has signed or authenticated a security agreement that provides a description of the collateral.
Security agreements grant a creditor a security interest in the debtor's property, ensuring the creditor's repayment in case the debtor defaults. The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) is a comprehensive set of laws governing commercial transactions, including secured transactions.
Accounts Receivable It is not possible to “see and touch” an account receivable. Therefore, most lenders perfect a security interest in receivables by filing a financing statement.
Filing Financing Statements Sometimes confused with the security agreement itself, the financing statement provides notice of a party's security interest in a debtor. This document can alert third parties, but it cannot be used as substitute for the actual security agreement.
Additionally, a security agreement is a private contract between a borrower and a lender, while the UCC is a public set of rules that apply to all parties involved in a commercial transaction. Another significant difference between a security agreement and the UCC is the level of detail they provide.