This paper develops a continuous time asset pricing model of debt and equity in a framework where equityholders decide when to default but creditors decide when to liquidate. This framework is relevant for environments where creditors exert a significant influence on the timing of liquidation,...

We examine the relation between firm reputation and the cost of debt financing. We posit that corporate reputation represents “soft information” not captured by balance sheet variables, which is nonetheless valuable to lenders. Using Fortune magazine's survey of company reputation while...

In this short note, we present a nontechnical retrospection on the unbearable longevity of the classic WACC (Weighted Average Cost of Capital) for the Free Cash Flow (FCF) in perpetuity. Over the past two decades, researchers in finance have increased greatly our understanding of the properties...

We examine the relation between firm reputation and the cost of debt financing. We posit that corporate reputation represents “soft information” not captured by balance sheet variables, which is nonetheless valuable to lenders. Using Fortune magazine's survey of company reputation, we find...

Koziol (2014) derives a simple adjusted WACC equation for firm valuation that takes default probability, possible loss of future tax savings, and the potential costs of financial distress into account. In this note we show that the derivation of the adjusted formula rests on an assumption that,...

Are all covenants equally effective at reducing the bondholder-shareholder conflict? Examining the most frequently used bond covenants, we document that four out of 24 restrictions are associated with significantly higher bankruptcy risk. The use of these Default Indicating covenants can be...

This paper presents three different approaches for calculating the levered annual values for a finite cash flow profile. In the first approach, we use K_U, the return to unlevered equity to calculate the annual tax savings and use K_U to calculate the (present) value of the tax savings. In the...

The tax shield as present value of debt-related tax savings plays an important role in firm valuation. Driving the risk of future debt levels, the firm's strategy to adjust the absolute debt level to future changes of the firm value, labeled as (re-)financing policy, affects the value of tax...

We investigate optimal capital structure and debt maturity policies in the presence of fixed issuance costs. We identify the global-optimal policy that generates the highest values of equity across all states of nature consistent with limited liability. The optimal policy without commitment...

We investigate equilibrium debt dynamics for a firm that cannot commit to a future debt policy and is subject to a fixed restructuring cost. We formally characterize equilibria when the firm is not required to repurchase outstanding debt prior to issuing additional debt. For realistic values of...