What do "Incurrence Covenants" typically prevent a company from doing?

Incurrence covenants are contractual agreements typically found in debt agreements that restrict a company from engaging in certain activities unless it satisfies specific financial metrics or conditions. The primary purpose of incurrence covenants is to manage the risk associated with the company's financial health and leverage.

The selected answer, which discusses restrictions on taking on additional debt or selling assets, is correct because incurrence covenants are generally designed to limit a company's ability to increase its financial obligations. This helps protect lenders by ensuring that the company does not overly leverage itself or divest critical assets, which could jeopardize its ability to service existing debt.

In this context, other options that suggest limiting dividend payments, offering discounts on future loans, or reducing interest rates on existing debt do not align with the primary function of incurrence covenants. While other types of covenants, such as maintenance covenants, may address aspects like dividend payments or financial ratios, the focus on incurrence covenants is particularly on ensuring that a company remains prudent in its capital structure and strategic decisions related to leveraging and asset management.