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Why Do Western European Firms Issue Convertibles Instead of Straight Debt or Equity?

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  • Marie Dutordoir
  • Linda Van de Gucht

Abstract

Unlike their US counterparts, European convertible debt issuers tend to be large companies with small debt†and equity†related financing costs. Therefore, it is puzzling why these firms issue convertibles instead of standard financing instruments. This paper examines European convertible debt issuer motivations by estimating a security choice model that incorporates convertibles, straight debt, and equity. We find that European convertibles are used as sweetened debt, not as delayed equity. This motivation is reflected in the debt†like design of most European convertible issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Marie Dutordoir & Linda Van de Gucht, 2009. "Why Do Western European Firms Issue Convertibles Instead of Straight Debt or Equity?," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 15(3), pages 563-583, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:eufman:v:15:y:2009:i:3:p:563-583
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-036X.2007.00433.x
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    2. Liang‐Chih Liu & Tian‐Shyr Dai & Lei Zhou & Hao‐Han Chang, 2022. "Analyzing interactive call, default, and conversion policies for corporate bonds," Journal of Futures Markets, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(8), pages 1597-1638, August.
    3. Liao, Yulu & Huang, Paoyu & Ni, Yensen, 2022. "Convertible bond issuance volume, capital structure, and firm value," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    4. Pascal Barneto & Stéphane Ouvrard & Yves Rannou, 2019. "Les titres hybrides : de leur émission à leur classement comptable. Un enjeu de contrôle ?," Post-Print hal-02311469, HAL.
    5. Dutordoir, Marie & Strong, Norman & Ziegan, Marius C., 2014. "Does corporate governance influence convertible bond issuance?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 80-100.
    6. Li, Xiaoyang & Lin, Shannon & Tucker, Alan L., 2016. "The curious case of converts," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 1-17.
    7. Dutordoir, Marie & Lewis, Craig & Seward, James & Veld, Chris, 2014. "What we do and do not know about convertible bond financing," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 3-20.
    8. Dong, Ming & Dutordoir, Marie & Veld, Chris, 2019. "How can we improve inferences from surveys? A new look at the convertible debt questions from the Graham and Harvey survey data," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 213-222.
    9. Adoukonou, Olivier & André, Florence & Viviani, Jean-Laurent, 2021. "The determinants of the convertible bonds call policy of Western European companies," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    10. Angel Huerga & Carlos Rodríguez-Monroy, 2019. "Mandatory Convertible Bonds and the Agency Problem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-21, July.
    11. Li, Hui & Liu, Hong & Siganos, Antonios, 2016. "A comparison of the stock market reactions of convertible bond offerings between financial and non-financial institutions: Do they differ?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 356-366.

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