What Are Distressed Securities?

Distressed securities are financial instruments issued by a company that is near to or currently going through bankruptcy. A security can also be considered distressed it fails to maintain certain covenants (obligations incorporated into the debt or security, such the ability to maintain a certain asset to liability ratio, or a particular credit rating.) As a result of the issuing company's inability to meet its financial obligations, these financial instruments have suffered a substantial reduction in value. However, because of their implicit riskiness, they can offer high-risk investors the potential for high returns. Distressed securities can include common and preferred shares, bank debt, trade claims, and corporate bonds.

Key Takeaways

  • Distressed securities are those securities issued by a company that is near to or in the midst of bankruptcy.
  • The company may also have breached covenants (conditions of the security issuance), frequently a precursor to bankruptcy itself.
  • As a result, they have lost significant value and may be worth only pennies on the dollar.

The Basics of Distressed Securities

Distressed securities often appeal to investors looking for a bargain and willing to accept risk. In some cases, these investors believe the company's situation is not as bad as it looks, and as a result, they anticipate their investments will increase in value over time. In other cases, investors may foresee the company going into bankruptcy, but they feel confident that there might be enough money upon liquidation to cover the securities they have purchased.

Unfortunately, in many cases, the companies that issue distressed securities end up filing for Chapter 11 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy; as a result, individuals interested in investing in these securities need to consider what happens in the case of bankruptcy. In most bankruptcies, equity, such as common shares, is rendered worthless, making investing in distressed stocks extremely risky. However, senior debt instruments, such as bank debt, trade claims, and bonds, may yield some payout.

In particular, if a business files Chapter 7 bankruptcy, it stops operations and goes into liquidation, at which point its funds are dispensed to its creditors, including bondholders. Conversely, under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a business restructures and continues operations. If reorganization is successful, its distressed securities, including both stocks and bonds, may yield surprising amounts of profits.

An Example of a Distressed Security

Securities are labeled as distressed when the company issuing them is unable to meet many of its financial obligations. In most cases, these securities carry a CCC or below credit rating from debt-rating agencies, such as Standard and Poor's or Moody's Investor Services. Distressed securities contrast with junk bonds, which traditionally have a credit rating of BBB or lower.
