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PIK toggle meaning

What does PIK toggle mean?
A PIK toggle is a payment-in-kind feature in leveraged finance and high-yield documentation that allows the borrower/issuer, for a specified interest period, to elect to pay interest in cash or to capitalise some or all of it to the outstanding principal (PIK). The election usually applies to the margin only (not the base rate) and is commonly limited to a stated percentage of the margin and to a fixed number of periods per year or over the life of the facility. When toggled to PIK, a pricing step-up or alternative margin often applies for that period. PIK interest compounds and increases leverage. The mechanism, notice requirements and any lender consent are set out in the facility agreement or bond terms; no statutory or case-law definition exists—this is market terminology. PIK toggles are used across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland on broadly consistent terms, particularly in term loan B, unitranche, mezzanine and PIK-toggle notes. They provide cash-flow flexibility but may affect covenants, intercreditor waterfalls and tax treatment.
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View the related Practice Notes about PIK toggle

PRACTICE NOTES
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PRACTICE NOTES
Comprehensive glossary of UK restructuring and insolvency terms, covering Companies Act schemes, Part 26A plans, IA 1986 processes, and cross‑border concepts including COMI, UNCITRAL and assimilated EU rules.

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK Banking, Finance, Capital Markets, Derivatives and Insolvency Law Glossary including Islamic finance

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