Tranche Attachment Point
The tranche attachment point is the specific threshold of portfolio losses at which a particular tranche begins to incur financial impairment. Below this point, the tranche is protected from losses; once the losses in the underlying pool exceed this level, the tranche starts to lose value.
Every tranche has an attachment point and a detachment point, which together define the range of losses that the tranche is responsible for absorbing. For example, a mezzanine tranche might have an attachment point of 5 percent and a detachment point of 15 percent, meaning it is only affected if total portfolio losses fall within that range.
Traders use these points to calculate the probability of loss for specific tranches and to hedge their positions. Knowing these points is fundamental to understanding the sensitivity of a tranche to changes in the underlying default rates.