
Unsecured corporate bonds are known as a type of investment that doesn't require a physical asset as collateral.
These bonds are issued by companies to raise funds for various business purposes, such as expanding operations or paying off debts.
The issuer promises to repay the bond's face value, plus interest, to the investor at a specified date, known as the maturity date.
Investors are essentially lending money to the company, which can be a riskier option compared to secured bonds.
What are Unsecured Corporate Bonds?
Unsecured corporate bonds are a type of bond that's not backed by any assets. This means that if the company issuing the bond goes bankrupt, the repayment of the principal amount and interest is not guaranteed to the bondholders.
The key difference between secured and unsecured bonds is that secured bonds are backed by assets, while unsecured bonds are not. Unsecured bonds are also known as debentures.
Companies may issue unsecured bonds if they don't have enough assets to serve as collateral. In this case, they may have to pay a higher interest rate to attract investors.
A highly-rated issuer may also issue unsecured bonds if investors are willing to take on the risk without the extra protection of a security feature.
Here are some examples of entities that may issue unsecured bonds:
- No assets available. A corporate or government entity may sell unsecured bonds because it does not have a sufficient amount of assets to serve as collateral for the bonds.
- Highly-rated issuer. An issuer may be so large, profitable, and well-financed that investors are willing to do without the extra protection of a security feature.
- Government issuer. A government may simply raise taxes if it needs additional funds to pay off its bond obligations, and so sees no need to issue secured bonds.
Debentures vs. Unsecured Bonds
Debentures and unsecured bonds are often used interchangeably, but they're not exactly the same thing. In American usage, a debenture is an unsecured bond, but in British usage, a debenture is a bond that's secured by company assets.
Unsecured bonds, on the other hand, are not backed by any assets, making them riskier for investors. Debentures, being a type of unsecured bond, also carry this risk. In fact, debentures are considered riskier than secured bonds because they're not backed by any collateral.
Here's a key difference between debentures and unsecured bonds: debentures are typically issued to raise capital for a specific project or expansion, while unsecured bonds can be issued for various purposes.
Comparison
Debentures and unsecured bonds both offer a way to lend money to companies, but they differ in terms of security.
Debentures are backed by the company's assets, whereas unsecured bonds are not.
A key difference between the two is that debentures typically offer a fixed interest rate, which is usually higher than what you'd get from a savings account.
Unlike unsecured bonds, debentures are often issued with a collateral, such as property or equipment, which can provide an added layer of security for investors.
Investors in unsecured bonds, on the other hand, rely solely on the company's creditworthiness to ensure timely payments.
The risk level associated with debentures is generally lower than that of unsecured bonds, due to the added security of collateral.
Key Differences
In the US, a debenture is essentially an unsecured bond. Debentures don't require collateral, unlike some other types of bonds.
All debentures are bonds, but not all bonds are debentures. This is because debentures have a specific characteristic: they're unsecured.
In the US, you can buy bonds online or over the phone using funds in your brokerage or retirement account. Many broker-dealers offer this option.
In contrast, U.S. Treasury bonds can be purchased directly through the U.S. Treasury's free web platform, TreasuryDirect.
Unsecured Bonds
Unsecured Bonds are essentially debentures, which are bonds that are not backed by any assets. They rely solely on the credit-worthiness, faith, and credibility of the issuer to attract investors. This type of bond is riskier than secured bonds because there's no collateral to fall back on in case the issuer defaults on payments.
Investors who choose to invest in unsecured bonds do so because they believe in the issuer's ability to repay the loan. This is often the case with highly-rated issuers or government entities that have a history of repaying their debts. However, this doesn't mean that unsecured bonds are completely risk-free.
In fact, unsecured bonds are often sold with higher coupons and traded at higher yields, which means investors can expect a slightly higher return on their investment. But, as with any investment, there are no guarantees, and the risk of default is always present.
Some examples of unsecured bonds include corporate bonds, treasury bills, and notes. These types of bonds are often issued by companies or governments that don't have sufficient assets to back their bonds.
Here are some scenarios where unsecured bonds might be issued:
- A company may issue unsecured bonds if it doesn't have enough assets to serve as collateral.
- A highly-rated issuer may issue unsecured bonds because investors are willing to take on the extra risk.
- A government may issue unsecured bonds because it can simply raise taxes to pay off its bond obligations.
In summary, unsecured bonds are a type of debenture that relies on the issuer's credit-worthiness to attract investors. While they may come with higher returns, they also come with higher risks, and investors should be aware of the potential for default.
Guaranteed Bonds
Guaranteed bonds are a type of bond that has backing from a third party. This can be a parent company or an insurance company.
A parent company can act as a "co-signer" for a subsidiary, essentially guaranteeing the bond. For example, if Pampers issues a bond, Procter & Gamble will guarantee it by promising to pay off the bond if Pampers can't.
Guaranteed bonds are still considered unsecured bonds, even with the backing of a parent company. This means the bond's success or failure is contingent on the parent company's ability to pay off the bond.
Municipal bonds are often insured by third-party insurance companies, which makes them guaranteed bonds. For example, if the city of Denver issues a bond insured by Ambac, the bond is guaranteed.
A bond must have collateral, such as a valuable asset, to be considered a secured bond. A promise to pay from another company doesn't count as collateral, so a guaranteed bond is still considered unsecured.
Risk and Security
Debentures are unsecured debt securities, which means they're theoretically riskier than secured bonds.
In the event of a default, debenture holders have a lower chance of recouping their investment compared to secured bondholders.
Debentures are unsecured, leaving them vulnerable to creditors' claims in the event of bankruptcy.
Secured bondholders, on the other hand, have a higher priority in receiving payments in the event of default.
This makes debentures riskier than bonds, as debenture holders are further down the priority list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are unsecured bonds called?
Unsecured bonds are often referred to as debentures. This type of bond is backed by the creditworthiness of the issuer rather than a specific asset.
Sources
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/122414/what-difference-between-debenture-and-bond.asp
- https://www.angelone.in/knowledge-center/share-market/secured-bonds
- https://nivesh.com/blog/bonds/%EF%BF%BC/
- https://www.accountingtools.com/articles/unsecured-bond
- https://app.achievable.me/study/finra-series-6/learn/corporate-debt-types
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