Mezzanine loan

A mezzanine loan is a relatively large, unsecured loan (a loan that is not backed by a pledging of assets) with a maturity of at least five years. The loan carries a detachable warrant (the right to purchase a certain number of shares of stock or bonds at a given price for a certain period of time) or a similar mechanism to allow the lender to share in the future success of the business. Mezzanine loans are dependent on cash flow for repayment.