Convertible Bond

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Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Convertible Bond'

A bond that can be converted into a predetermined amount of the company's equity at certain times during its life, usually at the discretion of the bondholder.

Convertibles are sometimes called "CVs".
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Convertible Bond'

Issuing convertible bonds is one way for a company to minimize negative investor interpretation of its corporate actions. For example, if an already public company chooses to issue stock, the market usually interprets this as a sign that the company's share price is somewhat overvalued. To avoid this negative impression, the company may choose to issue convertible bonds, which bondholders will likely convert to equity anyway should the company continue to do well.

From the investor's perspective, a convertible bond has a value-added component built into it; it is essentially a bond with a stock option hidden inside. Thus, it tends to offer a lower rate of return in exchange for the value of the option to trade the bond into stock.

Related Definitions

  • Fully Diluted Shares

    The total number of shares that would be outstanding if all possible sources of conversion, such as convertible bonds and stock options, were exercised. Companies often release specific ...
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  • Busted Convertible Security

    A convertible security that is trading well below its conversion value. The result is that the security is valued as regular debt because there is very little chance that it will ever ...
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  • Convertible Preferred Stock

    Preferred stock that includes an option for the holder to convert the preferred shares into a fixed number of common shares, usually anytime after a predetermined date. Also known as ...
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    • Contingent Convertibles - CoCos

      A security similar to a traditional convertible bond in that there is a strike price (the cost of the stock when the bond converts into stock). What differs is that there is another ...
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    • Conversion Price

      The price per share at which a convertible security, such as corporate bonds or preferred shares, can be converted into common stock.
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    • Revertible

      Refers to a special kind of convertible corporate bond that automatically converts itself into shares of the company's stock in the event that the underlying stock drops below a certain ...
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    • Bond Purchase Agreement

      A legally binding document between a bond issuer and an underwriter establishing the terms of a bond sale. The terms of a bond purchase agreement will include sale conditions, sale ...
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    • Mandatory Convertible

      A type of convertible bond that has a required conversion or redemption feature. Either on or before a contractual conversion date, the holder must convert the mandatory convertible into ...
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    • Structured Yield Product Exchangeable For Stock - STRYPES

      A type of convertible bond issued by companies that pays a quarterly cash coupon and can also be exchanged for a certain number of shares or receive the cash equivalent at maturity. ...
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    • Asset Swapped Convertible Option Transaction - ASCOT

      An option on a convertible bond that is used to separate a convertible bond into its two components: 1) a bond and 2) an option to acquire stock. When the bond is stripped of its ...
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    • Warrant

      A derivative security that gives the holder the right to purchase securities (usually equity) from the issuer at a specific price within a certain time frame. Warrants are often included ...
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