Subgroup of syndicated loans, i.e. loans distributed among several creditors, which are usually senior secured (i.e. senior to other liabilities classified as junior or subordinated) and which, according to the various heterogeneous definitions, either (1) are not investment grade (i.e. below BBB+) or (2) have a debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 3.0 or more or (3) are priced more than 150 basis points above the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR).