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Glossary Show All

Bunny bond

A bunny bond is a fixed-rate bond that gives the investor the option to receive coupon payments either in cash or in the form of additional bonds of the same issue. The additional bonds are typically issued with the same coupon rate and the same maturity date as the original bond. This structure is designed to reduce reinvestment risk when market interest rates fall.

In a conventional fixed-rate bond, coupon payments are made in cash, and the investor must decide how to reinvest them. If market yields decline, those coupon proceeds may only be reinvested at lower rates. A bunny bond addresses that problem by allowing the investor to receive more bonds instead of cash, thereby preserving exposure to the original bond terms. For this reason, bunny bonds are sometimes also called multiplier bonds or guaranteed coupon reinvestment bonds.

The value of this feature becomes more apparent in a falling-rate environment. When interest rates decline, the option to take additional bonds instead of cash can help the investor avoid reinvesting at lower yields. If rates rise, the investor is more likely to take the coupon in cash and redeploy it elsewhere. In that sense, the bunny bond provides flexibility, but that flexibility is specifically related to coupon reinvestment rather than to credit, maturity, or currency exposure.

Bunny bonds generally offer lower coupon rates than otherwise comparable standard fixed-rate bonds. This reflects the value of the embedded reinvestment option. The investor receives less current income in exchange for the ability to compound within the same issue when market conditions make that attractive. As a result, bunny bonds may appeal more to investors focused on total return and reinvestment efficiency than to investors who primarily want regular cash income.

Another important characteristic is liquidity. Bunny bonds are generally less actively traded on the secondary market than more conventional bonds. Their more specialized structure tends to limit the natural buyer base, which can make exit conditions less efficient and reduce trading flexibility. This means that, despite their reinvestment advantages, bunny bonds may not be suitable for all investors or all portfolio mandates.

Comparison with a standard fixed-rate bond

FeatureBunny bondStandard fixed-rate bond
Coupon payment Cash or additional bonds Cash only
Reinvestment risk Lower when rates fall Higher
Coupon level Usually lower Usually higher
Compounding method Built into the instrument Requires external reinvestment
Secondary market liquidity Usually more limited Usually better
Analytical complexity Higher Lower

Overall, a bunny bond is best understood as a fixed-rate bond with an embedded coupon reinvestment option. Its main purpose is not to increase headline yield, but to help investors preserve the economics of the original bond when reinvestment opportunities become less attractive. That makes it a specialized instrument rather than a mainstream alternative to conventional coupon bonds.