Sinking Fund Provision

Sinking Fund Provision

A provision in some bond indentures requiring the issuer to put money aside to repay bondholders at maturity. In bonds with such a provision, a fund or account is set up into which a issuer deposits money on a regular basis to repay the bond when it matures. See also: Sinking Fund Bond.

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sinking fund provision

A stipulation in many bond indentures that the borrower retire a certain proportion of the debt annually. The retirement may be effected by calling the bonds from the investors (if interest rates have declined) or by purchasing the bonds in the open market (if interest rates have increased). This orderly retirement may be advantageous to a bondholder because it creates some liquidity; however, it also may cause the holder to give up a high-yielding bond at the call price (often at par) during a period of reduced interest rates. Also called bond sinking fund. Compare doubling option. See also funnel sinking fund.