paying agent


Paying agent

An agent who makes principal and interest payments to bondholders on behalf of the issuer.

Paying Agent

An institution, usually an investment bank, that accepts funds from the issuer of a security and distributes them to that security's holders. In stocks, a paying agent receive dividends, which it then disburses to stockholders. In bonds, it receives coupon payments, which it then gives to bondholders. A paying agent acts as an intermediary in these transactions, and receives a fee for these services. See also: Outsourcing.

paying agent

A financial institution that makes the payments to the holders of an issuer's securities. For example, an indenture will name a paying agent responsible for making interest and principal payments on a bond issue.