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Poison Put

A poison put is a type of financial arrangement where bondholders have the right to demand early repayment of the bond's principal if certain events occur, such as a change of control in the issuing company. It is also known as a toxic put, and it is designed to protect bondholders from the risk of default or other adverse events that may occur following a significant change in the company's ownership or financial position.

The poison put is a provision in the bond contract that gives bondholders the right to sell back the bonds to the issuer at a premium price in the event of a triggering event. The premium price is usually set at a higher level than the market price of the bonds, so it provides an incentive for bondholders to exercise their put option and get their money back.

The purpose of a poison put is to provide a form of insurance to bondholders against the risk of default or other adverse events that may occur following a change of control in the issuing company. By exercising their put option, bondholders can protect themselves from losses that may occur as a result of the change in ownership or financial position of the company.

The role of a poison put is to provide a mechanism for bondholders to exit their investment in the event of a significant change in the issuing company's ownership or financial position. It helps to reduce the risk of default and other adverse events, and it provides bondholders with a measure of protection and assurance.

The components of a poison put include the triggering events that allow bondholders to exercise their put option, the premium price that bondholders can receive for their bonds, and the terms and conditions of the bond contract that specify the rights and obligations of both the issuer and the bondholders.

The importance of a poison put lies in its ability to reduce the risk of default and other adverse events that may occur following a change of control in the issuing company. It provides bondholders with a measure of protection and assurance, and it can help to maintain the stability and liquidity of the bond market.

The history of poison puts dates back to the 1980s, when they were first used as a way to protect bondholders from the risk of default in leveraged buyouts and other corporate restructurings. Since then, poison puts have become a common feature of many bond issues, particularly those that are issued by companies with high levels of debt or in industries that are subject to rapid change.

The benefits of a poison put include increased investor confidence and liquidity in the bond market, reduced risk of default and other adverse events, and greater protection for bondholders against the effects of significant changes in the issuing company's ownership or financial position.

The pros of a poison put are that it can help to reduce the risk of default and other adverse events, it provides bondholders with a measure of protection and assurance, and it can help to maintain the stability and liquidity of the bond market. The cons of a poison put are that it can be expensive for the issuing company, as the premium price paid to bondholders can be significantly higher than the market price of the bonds, and it can also limit the flexibility of the issuing company to make strategic decisions that may be in the best interests of its shareholders.

An example of a poison put is a bond issued by a company that includes a provision giving bondholders the right to demand early repayment of the bond's principal if the company undergoes a change of control, such as a merger or acquisition. If the change of control triggers the poison put provision, bondholders can exercise their right to sell back the bonds to the issuer at a premium price.


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