How Companies Use Bonds for Debt Restructuring: An Educational Deep Dive

Introduction

Companies often face situations where existing debt becomes expensive, mature too soon, or misaligned with cash-flow requirements.

To address these challenges, firms may use debt restructuring—a process of reorganising outstanding obligations to improve financial stability.

One key tool for restructuring is bond issuance, which allows companies to refinance, extend maturities, consolidate liabilities, or modify debt terms through regulated market mechanisms.

This educational deep dive explains how companies use bonds for debt restructuring in India’s regulated environment.

What Is Debt Restructuring?

Debt restructuring refers to altering the terms, timing, or composition of a company’s liabilities to make repayment more manageable.

Common objectives:

• extending repayment timelines

• refinancing high-cost liabilities

• consolidating multiple loans into market instruments

• improving liquidity and cash flows

• aligning debt with long-term business plans

Restructuring can occur in stressed or non-stressed situations, depending on the issuer's financial conditions.

Why Companies Use Bonds for Restructuring

Bonds are frequently used in restructuring because they offer:

1. More Flexible Maturities

Companies can issue long-dated bonds (5–15 years).

2. Multiple Structures

Fixed, floating, step-up, callable, secured, unsecured, subordinated, or perpetual.

3. Wider Investor Base

Institutional investors, banks, pension funds, and market participants.

4. Market-Based Pricing

Interest costs reflect current conditions.

5. Regulatory Clarity

Corporate bond frameworks are well-defined under SEBI.

Because of these advantages, companies frequently use bonds to reorganise existing obligations.

Types of Debt Restructuring Using Bonds

Companies may use bonds in several restructuring formats:

• refinancing existing liabilities

• bond exchange offers

• maturity extensions

• interest-rate adjustments through new issuance

• liability consolidation

• capital structure rebalancing

• tiered capital instruments (Tier-2, AT1)

Each method has regulatory and documentation requirements.

Refinancing Through New Bond Issuance

The most common method is refinancing, where companies:

• issue new bonds

• use the proceeds to repay older debt

This helps when earlier borrowings have:

• higher interest costs

• shorter maturity

• restrictive conditions

• floating-rate risks

• Example (Neutral Illustration)

A company with a 2-year loan may issue a 5-year secured bond to replace it, giving more time to repay.

This is routine treasury management in corporate India.

Exchange Offers & Liability Management

Companies sometimes ask existing bondholders to exchange old bonds for new ones with updated terms.

This is known as a bond exchange or liability management exercise (LME).

Terms that may change:

• maturity date

• coupon structure

• security type

• principal repayment schedule

SEBI mandates specific disclosures for exchange offers, ensuring full transparency.

Extending Maturities With Bond Structures

Companies may issue long-term bonds to extend the maturity profile of their debt.

Benefits:

• reduces near-term pressure

• aligns repayments with long-term cash flows

• supports capex-heavy or infrastructure projects

Government-linked PSUs, NBFCs, and corporates commonly use long-tenor bonds for this purpose.

Reducing Interest Burden Through Reissuance

If market conditions improve and interest rates fall, issuing bonds at lower coupon levels can help reduce the overall cost of debt.

Example (Neutral)

If an older bond carries a high coupon due to a previous rate cycle, a company may refinance it with a lower-rate bond.

This does not guarantee savings but is a common capital-restructuring tactic.

Role of Credit Ratings in Debt Restructuring

During restructuring, credit-rating agencies assess:

• the updated capital structure

• the company’s liquidity position

• new repayment schedules

• adequacy of cash flows

• security offered on new bonds

Ratings may change due to restructuring, depending on the perceived risk.

Important:

BondScanner presents ratings but does not interpret or assess them.

Regulatory Oversight: SEBI, Exchanges & Trustees

Debt restructuring using bonds is governed by strict regulations.

SEBI oversees:

• disclosure requirements

• listing frameworks

• credit rating agency supervision

• debt-issuance norms

• advertising restrictions

Stock Exchanges ensure:

• listing compliance

• market transparency

• timely disclosures

Debenture Trustees handle:

• monitoring issuer obligations

• covenant compliance

• investor communication

This ensures that restructuring through bonds occurs transparently.

Risks & Considerations for Issuers

While bonds offer refinancing flexibility, companies must consider:

1. Market Acceptance

Investors may demand higher rates if risk perception increases.

2. Credit Rating Impact

Restructuring may trigger re-evaluation.

3. Documentation Requirements

Extensive disclosures and regulatory filings are mandatory.

4. Liquidity Considerations

Secondary-market liquidity varies across issuers.

5. Covenant Restrictions

New bonds may carry stronger protections for bondholders.

Restructuring is a complex exercise requiring strong financial management.

How BondScanner Provides Transparency

BondScanner supports investor understanding through:

• issuer details

• security type (secured, unsecured, subordinated)

• maturity profile

• coupon structure

• call/put features

• price/yield indicators (when available)

• disclosure documents

• rating information

• regulatory filings

The platform does not provide restructuring advice, suitability guidance, or recommendations.

It simply offers transparent access to bond features.

Illustrative Examples (Educational Only)

(These are not recommendations or opinions)

Example 1: Refinancing Existing Debt

A corporate repays a short-term bridge loan by issuing a 7-year secured bond.

Example 2: Extending Maturity Profile

A company with several loans maturing in 2026 issues a long-dated bond maturing in 2034 to improve liquidity scheduling.

Example 3: Exchange Offer

Bondholders exchange an existing bond for a new bond with a longer tenor and revised coupon structure.

Example 4: Liability Consolidation

An issuer consolidates multiple high-cost borrowings into a single rated bond issuance.

These examples illustrate common practices in corporate debt management.

Common Misconceptions

“Restructuring means the company is failing”

Not necessarily—many financially healthy companies restructure debt to improve efficiency.

“Bond refinancing always reduces cost”

It depends entirely on market conditions.

“All restructuring involves losses for existing investors”

Not true—many refinancings are routine and non-stress driven.

“Ratings guarantee risk outcomes”

Ratings represent agency assessment, not assurance.

Conclusion

Bonds are a vital tool for companies managing debt profiles, refinancing obligations, and restructuring liabilities.

Through clear regulation, mandatory disclosures, and structured documentation, India’s bond market enables transparent and efficient debt-restructuring mechanisms.

BondScanner helps users explore bond features—such as ratings, maturities, security types, and offer documents—to understand how corporate debt instruments are structured within regulatory frameworks.

Disclaimer

This blog is intended solely for educational and informational purposes. The bonds and securities mentioned herein are illustrative examples and should not be construed as investment advice or personal recommendations. BondScanner, as a SEBI-registered Online Bond Platform Provider (OBPP), does not provide personalized investment advice through this content.

Readers are advised to independently evaluate investment options and seek professional guidance before making financial decisions. Investments in bonds and other securities are subject to market risks, including the possible loss of principal. Please read all offer documents and risk disclosures carefully before investing.