Module III· DCM — High Yield & HybridAdvanced
Question
Case: sponsor-backed industrial company plans a 400 HY refinancing, EBITDA 60. What structure and pricing do you expect?
Answer
Starting point
400 debt / 60 EBITDA = 6.7x leverage, a high leveraged-finance profile.
Likely structure
- Senior secured first-lien term loan or bond for the largest tranche
- Potential second-lien or senior unsecured layer if total leverage is too high for 1L alone
- Possibly HoldCo PIK if sponsor wants extra proceeds but operating-company debt capacity is maxed
Illustrative pricing logic
- 1L debt: lowest spread, secured recovery
- 2L: materially wider than 1L
- Senior unsecured: wider still because of lower recovery
- HoldCo PIK: highest cost due to structural subordination and cash-pay uncertainty
Interview answer
Emphasize that exact pricing depends on market window, sponsor, sector cyclicality, leverage, collateral, EBITDA quality, and covenant package.
Pitch tip
At 6.7x, structure and investor appetite matter more than headline coupon alone.