Trying to understand how non investment grade debt works on an investment grade company

I assume non investment grade debt on an investment grade company trades higher than high grade stuff. I know that different tranches will trade according to the jump in leverage ratios, say between senior bank debt leverage and the leverage on the subordinated tranche. But if two below investment grade tranches are trading, one of an investment grade company and the other on a non investment grade company in the same industry with similar products, the former will probably trade much much lower.

Technically, the leveraged finance market seems like it is only tapped by below investment grade companies in a sellers market, and therefore leveraged finance clients are all mostly investment grade companies.

Are leveraged loans/bonds much different from investment grade debt? If both markets can be secured and the companies in the market are investment grade, why are there differences in terms on agreements between investment/non investment grade debt?

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Best Response

Yes. Investment grade debt is virtually covenant free and has a gigantic pool of investors, whereas HY is typically loaded with covenants and markets to a smaller pool of funds.

The rating of the sponsor or parent as far from the only determining factor in rating debt at the opco level. Debt with a HG sponsor might be much worse off structurally with less investor-friendly covenants, and might be less sought after than one with a BB+ parent.

 

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