Credit Default Swaps and Debt Overhang
56 Pages Posted: 28 Apr 2017 Last revised: 14 Nov 2020
Date Written: November 14, 2020
Abstract
We analyze the impact of credit default swaps (CDS) trading on firm investment, long-term debt financing, and valuation. In our model, the firm is endowed with a real option to initiate a project and enhance its future growth. Its creditors have access to CDS contracts that hedge them against default losses. We show that CDS protection increases the firm's pledgeable income, that is, the maximum amount of debt it can raise. However, at the same time CDS protection decreases asset growth and impedes project initiation. As a result, CDS trading could reduce firm value, and the negative effects are stronger when the firm is riskier, where shareholders have stronger bargaining power, and growth opportunities are less valuable. Using simulated cross-sections of firms, we find that CDS trading increases corporate default rates and deters investment. Altogether, CDS firms tend to have a lower firm value and more volatile equity returns than non-CDS firms.
Keywords: Credit Default Swaps, Debt Overhang, Investment, Empty Creditor, Credit Risk
JEL Classification: G31, G33, G34
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation