Leveraged Loan

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Definition of 'Leveraged Loan'

A leveraged loan is a loan that is secured by a company's assets. The loan is typically used to finance a company's acquisition of another company or to fund a major expansion. The interest rate on a leveraged loan is typically higher than the interest rate on a traditional loan, because the lender is taking on more risk.

The amount of debt that a company can take on is limited by its debt-to-equity ratio. The debt-to-equity ratio is a measure of a company's financial leverage. It is calculated by dividing a company's total debt by its total equity. A high debt-to-equity ratio means that a company is more leveraged and therefore more risky.

Leveraged loans are often used by private equity firms to finance acquisitions. Private equity firms typically have a high tolerance for risk, and they are willing to pay a higher interest rate in order to secure a leveraged loan.

Leveraged loans can be a risky investment for investors. If the company that issued the loan defaults, the investor may lose all of their money. However, leveraged loans can also be a very profitable investment if the company does well.

Here are some of the key features of leveraged loans:

* They are secured by a company's assets.
* The interest rate is typically higher than the interest rate on a traditional loan.
* The amount of debt that a company can take on is limited by its debt-to-equity ratio.
* Leveraged loans are often used by private equity firms to finance acquisitions.
* Leveraged loans can be a risky investment for investors, but they can also be a very profitable investment.

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