Why the rush to pay down outstanding borrowings on a credit facility?

I was reading about a company's announcement of a convertible preferred offering and the intent to use proceeds to pay down outstanding borrowings on its credit facility. I'm trying to get some clarity on why companies are always in a rush to pay down these borrowings. I understand the nature of credit revolvers, but at the same time these borrowings don't really cost the firm much. Seems like a balancing act of maintaining just enough of a borrowing base; is there more to it than that?

9 Comments
 

That interest thing that debt costs? also gives the firm greater flexibility in the future. some will have clean up provisions too.

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

It has do with internal projections. You ask why they want to pay down their credit facility. It can be for many reasons, their WACC could be higher than they want and they see an opportunity to lower it with a convertible offering. Or they could be overweight in credit and want to re-balance with more equity. There are lots of reasons as to why they might be doing this.

Follow the shit your fellow monkeys say @shitWSOsays Life is hard, it's even harder when you're stupid - John Wayne
 

I'm on a smartphone and can't figure out how to start a new thread, so ... Can someone point me to or explain the pros and cons of term debt vs a facility?

I get the flexibility of a line of credit, but you would think that the tradeoff would be a higher interest rate (as with a credit card), but that is not necessarily the case in real-life corporate examples ...

 
Best Response
bortz911

I'm on a smartphone and can't figure out how to start a new thread, so ... Can someone point me to or explain the pros and cons of term debt vs a facility?

I get the flexibility of a line of credit, but you would think that the tradeoff would be a higher interest rate (as with a credit card), but that is not necessarily the case in real-life corporate examples ...

RCFs can have restrictive true up provision (have to make the balance 0 for one month every year or so), you have to pay commitment fees (40bps of margin, which never covers the cost of keeping the line open for the bank). But they often have good security packages and are a relationship product, so can be offered as a loss leader from the bank hoping to get M&A work later on. Remember that banks' Ops guys are huge, paying in and out on the RCF really isn't an issue. So they can give it as a free option. RCFs usually have a maturity before the underlying TLA etc.The flexible repayment also can (big can, not always the norm) elevate the bullet nature, or term debt, and it can also be drawn (if in compliance with covenants) at time of distress. RCFs mean very different things for different companies though.

Term debt gives you certainty, and some just don't need the RCF.

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 
bortz911 Oreos:

banks' ops guys are huge

you mean their ops divisions are huge, right?

Thanks for the explanation

yes. but they can also be fatties, too.
"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

One more: How about secured vs unsecured? Who gets to access the unsecured market? I'm guessing that the obvious preference by a borrower would be to take out unsecured debt. I was told that the biggest thing is size; you have to be big if you want to borrow at that level. Is this the general idea?

 
bortz911

One more: How about secured vs unsecured? Who gets to access the unsecured market? I'm guessing that the obvious preference by a borrower would be to take out unsecured debt. I was told that the biggest thing is size; you have to be big if you want to borrow at that level. Is this the general idea?

Correct, generally. But bear in mind, when someone tells you that your bond is secured, it depends on what. It could be a empty holdco which then has a back-to-back intercomp loan to the opcos / another holdco so you’re once (or more) times removed from the assets, and your "asset" is the loan made by the holdco. Importantly, you are removed from the decision making etc.. as well at the actually assets of the business.
"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

Voluptas et accusantium quisquam. Eum voluptas quia occaecati sint asperiores ut earum. Sequi quia et neque odit.

Odio incidunt molestiae sed iste corporis repudiandae tenetur. Et atque consequatur officia autem. Dolores consequuntur sed velit consequuntur illum ad. Et officiis est unde.

Quod minima sed totam ut. Eos explicabo laborum pariatur in sit. Temporibus cum voluptas dignissimos et velit. Minus dolore provident magni commodi. Omnis dolore aliquam fugit. Ad quaerat impedit deserunt dolor quis consequuntur voluptatibus repellat.

Consequatur corrupti id molestiae et beatae. Blanditiis ratione tempore eos aut et quae. Qui quae totam quasi voluptas et inventore.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (67) $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
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”