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A self-liquidating loan is characterized by its structure of automatic repayment, typically derived from the income generated by the project or asset financed by the loan. This means that the funds obtained from the loan are used for investments that are expected to generate cash flow or income, which in turn is used to pay off the loan over time. This type of financing is particularly common in situations where the loan proceeds are employed to fund projects that have predictable revenue streams, such as inventory purchases, equipment financing, or real estate developments.

The defining feature of a self-liquidating loan is its inherent design, where the cash inflows produced by the funded project ensure that the loan can be repaid without the borrower needing to dip into personal or alternative sources of income. This mechanism helps to mitigate risks for both lenders and borrowers, as the project itself is responsible for meeting repayment obligations.

In contrast, loans that require no payments until maturity do not benefit from this cash flow structure, as repayments are deferred until the end of the loan term. Loans that include prepayment penalties have restrictions on paying off the loan early, which does not relate to the fundamental nature of self-liquidating loans. Lastly, loans used to purchase equity securities do not inherently operate on the principle of securing automatic