If the PE firm is concerned about meeting interest payments and wants a lower-cost option, they might use bank debt.

• A. To maximize flexibility with incurrence covenants.
• B. To achieve higher returns through more aggressive leverage.
• C. To lower cost and avoid incurrence covenants while planning expansion.
• D. To avoid debt entirely

Answer: (C)

Bank debt is a financing choice that can strike a balance between cost and flexibility. It’s typically cheaper than many other forms of leverage, so a lower interest burden helps ensure the firm can meet payments. At the same time, bank debt often comes with covenants that are maintenance-focused rather than incurrence-based, which can reduce the risk of triggering restrictions every time you want to pursue expansion. That combination—lower ongoing cost and fewer aggressive covenants—fits a plan to grow while keeping debt service manageable.

Other options don’t fit as well. Trying to maximize flexibility with incurrence covenants misreads bank debt, since those covenants are more constraining when you take on new actions. Pushing for higher returns with more aggressive leverage increases default risk and can jeopardize the ability to meet interest payments. And avoiding debt entirely would prevent the expansion the PE firm has in mind.