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Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis Vol. 49 No. 3 2014

Contingent Capital: The Case of COERCs

George Pennacchi; Theo Vermaelen; Christian C. P. Wolff

Abstract

This paper introduces and analyzes a new form of contingent convertible: a call option enhanced reverse convertible (COERC). If an issuing bank’s market value of capital breaches a trigger, COERCs convert to many new equity shares that would heavily dilute existing shareholders, except that shareholders have the option to purchase these shares at the bond’s par value. COERCs have low risk: They are almost always fully repaid in cash. Yet, they reduce government bailouts by replenishing a bank’s capital. COERCs’ design also avoids problems with market-value triggers, such as manipulation or panic, while reducing moral hazard and debt overhang.

DOI
10.1017/s0022109014000398
Volume
49
Issue
3
Pages
541-574
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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