Using a dynamic model of strategic bargaining between equity and debt holders following default, we analyze the impact of shareholder bargaining power and debt overhang on optimal investment and strategic default. Our empirical tests utilize a new measure of the debt overhang wedge based on default probabilities generated from a hazard model for bankruptcy. Consistent with the theoretical predictions, bondholder (shareholder) ownership concentration ceteris paribus enhances (weakens) the overhang wedge and dampens (increases) capital investment. We identify novel ownership-structure-related factors in firm-level capital investment and document how post-default shareholder bargaining power alleviates the underinvestment problem caused by debt overhang. Received March 26, 2018; editorial decision June 20, 2018 by Editor: Paolo Fulghieri. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.

We empirically analyze the impact of uninsured deposits on a bank’s cost of public debt. Uninsured depositors can exert market discipline over a bank and potentially reduce its agency cost of debt through informed monitoring. We use a sample of public bond issues by U.S. bank holding companies from 1994 to 2013 and find statistically strong evidence that banks with more uninsured deposits relative to their assets issue bonds with a lower interest rate. Findings suggest a one standard deviation increase in uninsured deposits is associated with a 46–64 basis point decrease in bond yield. In addition, we find that bonds issued by banks with higher default risk or lower reputation benefit more from uninsured savers. Our paper contributes to the literature that explores market discipline and provides evidence that banks can benefit from it through a lower borrowing cost.