Underlying Debt

As per the Underlying Debt meaning in Finance, it is referred to as the debt Obligation of some small-sized government entity contained within some jurisdiction of a large-sized government entity. The larger government entity is known to be partially responsible for the debt obligation of the smaller entity. In the given instance, the large-sized entity would consider the debt obligation of the small-sized entity in the form of Underlying Debt.

Underlying Debt’s concept is mostly referenced with respect to the municipal Bonds. A municipality that is responsible for issuing the debt as a bond could still look forward to having the benefits of some large-sized government entity –like the federal or state government, being ready to share the respective credit responsibilities of the municipality.

Importance of Underlying Debt

The concept of Underlying Debt holds immense importance to small-sized government entities –the issuer of the debt as considered by the large-sized entity in the form of underlying debt. This is because the large-sized government entity is usually known to feature a higher credit rating in comparison to the small-sized government entity. Therefore, the respective connection with large-sized government entity improves the overall credit status of the respective small-sized government entity. This could eventually translate into the small-sized entity borrowing money at some lowered rate of interest.

The increased financial backing of the large-sized government entity makes it simpler for the small-sized entity to raise the overall Capital while issuing debts at highly favorable rates.

Instance of Underlying Debt

Cities, villages, townships, schools, and municipalities –all these entities are usually required to raise money for funding capital-centric projects. These projects might include the construction of a new park or a new school, major infrastructure projects, public transportation, highways, renovation of public spaces or buildings, effective waste management, and so more. While new sources of modern capital funding –like crowdfunding, are getting explored, the most common way of raising money is still through the process of issuing bonds.

The right government entity –like the school or city district, will then go forward with selling the respective bonds to the respective investors. Therefore, the entity would receive the money required for some Capital Project. It takes on the obligation of paying back to the investors the bond’s principal amount purchased in addition to the specified coupon rate or interest rate carried by the bonds.

The issuing process of the municipal bonds is mostly known to include a prediction that, in case the bond issuer would experience some financial problem leading to having difficulties in repaying the amount of debt, a large-sized government entity, like the state or federal government can consider stepping up to provide access to essential funds for paying back the respective investors of the bond. There are fewer chances that the small-sized government entity that had issued the bond would Default on the debt.