Junk-rated companies and private equity firms have lined up about $17 billion of debt recently for purchases of everything from power plants to a chain of gas stations. But they are using an unusual tool for that financing: the 364-day bridge loan. Wall Street firms look to sell that debt to investors but often agree to provide that funding even if markets are closed, and they have to hang onto the risk for years. “It is very rare to see this structure in a sponsor-backed LBO,” said Peter Toal, Barclays’ global head of fixed income, referring to 364-day loans. “In times of volatility, it’s an easier structure for the banks to commit to, no question about it.” After junk-bond and leveraged-loan markets effectively closed last month in the wake of President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements, banks were stuck holding onto billions of dollars of debt they couldn’t sell to investors. Hanging onto that debt can translate to hits to earnings for Wall Street firms. Now, borrowers are getting 364-day bridges that are effectively lines of credit for their acquisitions, which they can tap if they can’t sell bonds or leveraged loans before they close their acquisition. A significant number of buyouts financed in the leveraged loan market feature ratings in the B tier. Most of the companies getting 364-day bridge loans now, though, have grades in the BB tier, and sometimes their secured debt carries investment-grade ratings. Herc, for one, has an overall high-yield profile with a Ba2 rating from Moody’s Investors Service and an equivalent BB from S&P Global Ratings while its $750 million loan earned the lowest rung of investment-grade with a Baa3 rating by Moody’s and BBB- by S&P. At NRG, the firm’s senior-secured debt is rated BBB- by Fitch Ratings and S&P, the company said in an investor presentation detailing its acquisition plans this week.