Optimal Corporate Pension Policy for Defined Benefit Plans in the Presence of PBGC Insurance

36 Pages Posted: 9 Oct 2012

See all articles by Katarzyna Romaniuk

Katarzyna Romaniuk

Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU); Université de Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne; ESSEC Business School - Economics Department

Date Written: June 1, 2012

Abstract

This paper develops a general continuous-time framework for defining the optimal corporate pension policy for defined benefit (DB) plans in the presence of PBGC insurance. Interactions between the firm's optimal investment and financing policies and the optimal portfolio strategy for DB plans are studied. In normal, non-distressed times, the optimal pension portfolio rule from the equityholders' ’perspective is acceptable to both the participants and PBGC. However, this is no longer the case when the firm approaches financial distress. The PBGC put then emerges in the consolidated balance sheet, and the firm's optimal portfolio behavior becomes more aggressive. We recommend that the PBGC obtain a control right on pension decisions made by sponsoring companies near distress.

Keywords: optimal corporate pension policy, defined benefit pension plans, optimal portfolio, PBGC insurance, financial distress

JEL Classification: C61, D92, G11, G22, G23, G31, G32

Suggested Citation

Romaniuk, Katarzyna, Optimal Corporate Pension Policy for Defined Benefit Plans in the Presence of PBGC Insurance (June 1, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2159381 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2159381

Katarzyna Romaniuk (Contact Author)

Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) ( email )

111 Renai Road, SIP
, Lake Science and Education Innovation District
Suzhou, JiangSu province 215123
China

Université de Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne ( email )

17, rue de la Sorbonne
Paris, 75005
France

ESSEC Business School - Economics Department ( email )

95021 Cergy-Pontoise Cedex
France

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