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to rehypothecate

to rehypothecate

1 9.9
To use a customer's property given as loan security to back another loan
  • verb
  • /ˌriːhaɪˈpɒθɪkeɪt/
  • Specialized
: rehypotecar
  • When the market is unstable, banks often rehypothecate loans to mitigate their risk exposure.

Examples

  • In a bid to increase liquidity, many firms choose to rehypothecate collateral provided by their customers.

  • The Euro-denominated bond holdings which have been rehypothecated three or four times in The City.

    Blog text (6)
  • The AG, whoever it is, cannot prosecute Corzine for fraud because the customer deposits were legally hypothecated and rehypothecated to JP Morgan.

    Blog text (5)
  • The investment bank had to rehypothecate some of its clients' assets to secure additional financing.

Synonyms

to collateralize
vsto rehypothecate
  • Formal
4 9.3

To use something valuable as security for a loan

uses client pledged collateral specifically to back another loan instead of first pledge
to hypothecate
vsto rehypothecate
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Give property like a car or house as security for a loan while keeping and using it

applies to reusing client pledged collateral to secure another loan rather than possession rules
to repledge
vsto rehypothecate
  • Specialized
1 9.1

To use money or property again as security for a loan

uses collateral already pledged by a client to secure a further loan
to impawn
vsto rehypothecate
  • Archaic
9.9

Give something valuable to a pawnshop to get money

uses client pledged collateral again to secure an additional loan

Surface Forms

rehypothecate infinitive
rehypothecated past participle
rehypothecating present participle
rehypothecates third person singular

Morphology

rehypothecate = hypothecate (transparent) = re + hypothecate

Given knowledge of 'hypothecate', adding 're-' straightforwardly gives the meaning 'hypothecate again or reuse as collateral again'.

Etymology

Rehypothecate comes from re- ('again') and hypothecate, from ancient Greek words meaning 'under' and 'to place', so it literally means to 'place under again' as a pledge. That's why to rehypothecate is to use a client's pledged assets again as security for another loan.