SOFR
Last updated
Quick Answer
SOFR is the Secured Overnight Financing Rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and the floating-rate base for essentially all US leveraged loans after LIBOR.1
What it is
It is an overnight rate secured by Treasury repo, so a loan document cannot reference it the way it once referenced term LIBOR. Facilities use a term or averaged SOFR convention with a credit spread adjustment, and the day-count and averaging conventions come from the publisher rather than from the lender.1
Operational context
What good looks like
Why It Matters
Anything still quoting LIBOR is describing a market that no longer exists. Because SOFR is secured and overnight, it behaves differently from LIBOR under stress, which changes how a floating-rate downside case should be built.1
Term Family
Related concepts
Related Questions
Browse all questions →Frequently Asked Questions
What is SOFR in venture capital?
It is an overnight rate secured by Treasury repo, so a loan document cannot reference it the way it once referenced term LIBOR. Facilities use a term or averaged SOFR convention with a credit spread adjustment, and the day-count and averaging conventions come from the publisher rather than from the...
Why is SOFR important for startups?
Understanding SOFR is critical for founders navigating the fundraising process. It directly impacts deal terms, valuation, and the relationship between founders and investors.
Sources & References
- 1.T1-12 — Federal Reserve Bank of New YorkSOFR — reference rate publication and conventionsFederal Reserve Bank of New York(SOFR is the Secured Overnight Financing Rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and the floating-rate base for essentially all US leveraged loans after LIBOR.)primary · T1 · debt-capital-structure · metric
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