3 Months LIBOR / Full year cash interest calculation

Hi! I have a question in partiular for Leveraged Finance experts.

When calculating the cash interest, it is common sense to take the 3M LIBOR rate. Then you would say (please disregard any swap transaction), cash interest is applicable to the debt amount * (3M LIBOR + margin).

But my problem is that I dont understand why the 3M LIBOR is taken and not the 12 months LIBOR e.g..

Is the 3M LIBOR a rate p.a.? So an annualized rate?

Would the maths, to calculate quarterly interest payments, then be:

(3M LIBOR + margin) / 4

Is this correct?

Thanks for response

12 Comments
 

But that is to say... I would have to annualize the 3M LIBOR by myself?

The thing is that I have seen spread sheets by banks, where the 3M LIBOR was used as a full year base rate.... this confuses me....

 

LIBOR rates are quoted as an annualized rate (360 day convention)

There have been many great comebacks throughout history. Jesus was dead but then came back as an all-powerful God-Zombie.
 

Recusandae qui qui rerum consequuntur ipsum eius rerum dolores. Ab voluptatem repellat minima non ut quo fuga. Rem sequi optio laboriosam aliquam assumenda et incidunt. Cumque iusto dignissimos laborum nulla.

Dicta sed quisquam sunt voluptatem. Nemo veritatis perspiciatis ut sit possimus delectus ex. Ut voluptatibus non aut dignissimos veritatis. Ut ipsum dolores perferendis unde rerum non.

Adipisci rerum aliquam expedita enim eveniet est sit. Quia doloremque facere soluta iusto totam. Error rerum eos ratione nesciunt eligendi.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”