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Callable Bonds Revisited

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  • John C. Banko
  • Lei Zhou

Abstract

In light of the dramatic changes in the callable bond market, we reexamine the determinants of callable bonds. Using data from 1980‐2003, we find that callable bonds are often issued by firms with both information asymmetry and underinvestment problems. However, risk‐shifting does not appear to be a major factor. Furthermore, we find that interest rate hedging is an important factor for investment‐grade bonds and when interest rates are high but not so for below‐investment‐grade bonds or when rates are low.

Suggested Citation

  • John C. Banko & Lei Zhou, 2010. "Callable Bonds Revisited," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 39(2), pages 613-641, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:finmgt:v:39:y:2010:i:2:p:613-641
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-053X.2010.01086.x
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    2. Brown, Scott & Powers, Eric, 2020. "The life cycle of make-whole call provisions," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    3. Melvin Jameson & Tao‐Hsien Dolly King & Andrew Prevost, 2021. "Top management incentives and financial flexibility: The case of make‐whole call provisions," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(1-2), pages 374-404, January.
    4. Yagi, Kyoko & Takashima, Ryuta, 2012. "The impact of convertible debt financing on investment timing," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 29(6), pages 2407-2416.
    5. Wei Hao & Andrew Prevost & Udomsak Wongchoti, 2018. "Are Low Equity R2 Firms More or Less Transparent? Evidence from the Corporate Bond Market," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 47(4), pages 865-909, December.
    6. Eric Powers, 2021. "The Optimality of Call Provision Terms," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(10), pages 6581-6601, October.
    7. Samih Azar, 2015. "Why Callable Bonds Are not Called When the Market Price Reaches the Call Price: A Duration Argument," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 11(1), pages 1-90, December.
    8. Díaz, Antonio & Escribano, Ana, 2022. "Liquidity dimensions in the U.S. corporate bond market," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1163-1179.
    9. Carbó-Valverde, Santiago & Cuadros-Solas, Pedro J. & Rodríguez-Fernández, Francisco, 2017. "Do banks and industrial companies have equal access to reputable underwriters in debt markets?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 176-202.
    10. Liu, Chinpiao & Chen, An-Sing, 2015. "Do firms use dividend changes to signal future profitability? A simultaneous equation analysis," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 194-207.
    11. Choi, Seungmook & Jameson, Mel & Jung, Mookwon, 2013. "The issuance of callable bonds under information asymmetry," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 1-14.
    12. Alderson, Michael J. & Lin, Fang & Stock, Duane R., 2017. "Does the choice between fixed price and make whole call provisions reflect differential agency costs?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 442-460.

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