REVERSE CONVERTIBLE BOND - RCB

A bond that may be converted into cash or a stock at a certain date. The bond contains an embedded derivative allowing the issuer to put the bond to bondholders at a set date prior to the bond's maturity for existing debt or shares of an underlying company. The underlying company need not be related in any way to the issuer's business. These types of bonds usually have shorter terms to maturity and higher yields than most other bonds because of the risk involved for investors, who may be forced to redeem their bonds for securities in a company that have, or are expected to, decrease substantially in value.