Commercial Paper (CP) is a short-term, unsecured debt instrument issued by corporations, financial institutions, and sometimes governments to meet immediate funding needs such as working capital or liquidity management.
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Maturity: Typically ranges from a few days up to 270 days.
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Issuer: Generally issued by highly rated companies with strong credit profiles, since it is not backed by collateral.
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Denomination: Usually issued in large denominations, making it primarily accessible to institutional investors.
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Use of Proceeds: Commonly used to finance payroll, accounts payable, inventories, or other short-term liabilities.
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Attractiveness: Offers investors a relatively low-risk, interest-bearing alternative to bank deposits or Treasury bills, often with slightly higher yields.
In essence, CP is a key money market instrument that provides issuers with flexible, low-cost funding and gives investors a liquid, short-term investment option.