Payment in Kind (PIK):Mechanics and Rise in Prominence
Ben Goldwater Ben Goldwater

Payment in Kind (PIK):Mechanics and Rise in Prominence

Payment in Kind (“PIK”) refers to the payment of liabilities in the form of additional securities. PIK is akin to issuing new securities, most commonly debt, equal to the interest payment due and is a common feature in debt instruments used to fund leveraged buyouts (“LBOs”). This article describes types of PIK securities and various PIK mechanisms such as provisions on when and how much PIK may be used and its role in collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”). Further, this article explores the popularity of PIK, its advantages, and the challenges PIK may pose to creditors, borrowers, and equity sponsors.

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What does it really take to care for our elders?
Ben Goldwater Ben Goldwater

What does it really take to care for our elders?

My time at a nursing home helped me understand the challenges of caring for the elderly population. Taking care of the elderly requires a large and active workforce, emotional labor is the hardest part of the job, and the cost of elder care is taxing to residents and their families. Nearly all of us will come in contact with the long-term care (LTC) system. It might be scary to have conversations about what we want for long-term care but having these conversations now can remove layers of anxiety for when you need to put a plan in place.

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What inflation and a nursing shortage mean for long-term care
Ben Goldwater Ben Goldwater

What inflation and a nursing shortage mean for long-term care

Long term care (LTC) in the US is in distress. Given that this suite of services will be needed by 70% of older Americans and represents 14% of overall medical spending, strains on our LTC systems are not sustainable. With an aging population that will need more care from a smaller pool of already short-staffed caregivers, we are already seeing the effects of the cracks in LTC.

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