Pricing unsecured senior notes

Hi, I am curious to know about the process that is used to price unsecured senior notes. I mean the price elasticity of demand needs to be known. Once the notes are out in the market, the Moody's etc come into picture who start to rate and grade them based on the proposed application of funds that are going to be raised by these notes. Again, the funds raised are dependent on the ratings. This becomes a chicken and egg story. I hope someone would like to explain how the process works from scratch i.e. if a firm wishes to issue such notes what should be the percentage return that the notes should be paying to buyers. Thanks in advance.

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Best Response

Issuer goes to bankers (or the other way round), bankers do their thing, bankers pre-market to leads / anchor investors who dictate the initial structure and then bankers and lawyers put together docs. Then, sales guys, bankers and mgmt roadshow the issuer at guided structure and coupon / yield at issuance and get orders. investors place orders with or without conditions and at price. Bond priced as a function of order book demand / level (pricing can be stretched or shrunk given the demand).

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Ah, got it. Basically the underwriters bear the brunt if the issue goes bust.

Actually, I found a company going from 2011: "term loan of $650 million at a rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.75%, subject to a minimum Adjusted LIBOR interest rate floor of 1.0% or base rate plus 2.75%, subject to a minimum base rate interest rate floor of 2.0%." i.e. LIBOR(min.1%)+3.75% , IRF(2%)+2.75% To 2013: "U.S.$500.0 million 6.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due July 15, 2021 at issue price of 98.476% and $250.0 million 7.00% Senior Unsecured Notes due July 15, 2020 at issue price of 98.633%." i.e. (6.75% , 7%) The change makes sense only if LIBOR is greater than 3% which it has not been. So, I couldn't understand this 200bps increase in debt, apparently harakari of a company.

Advance thanks for the reply.

 

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