What does the company remain when utilizing in-substance defeasance?

In-substance defeasance is a financial accounting term related to the treatment of a company's liabilities when it is able to set aside sufficient funds to pay off the debt in the future. Under this arrangement, a company may place a legal obligation in a trust or similar arrangement, where the funds will be used to service the debt. However, the company still retains certain responsibilities associated with the debt, which is why it remains classified as the primary obligor.

By being the primary obligor, the company is still fundamentally responsible for the debt, despite having placed the funds in a secure arrangement to fulfill those obligations. This means that the trust does not remove the company’s obligation to the creditors; rather, it provides a mechanism for ensuring those obligations can be met. Therefore, the retention of this status allows investors and creditors to understand that the company has not effectively eliminated its liability, but rather has arranged for its future payment.

The other options—creditor, trustee, and guarantor—represent different roles within a financing arrangement. The creditor is the party to whom money is owed, while the trustee manages the funds in the trust and ensures they are available to pay the obligations. The guarantor, if involved, would provide a backup promise that the debt