The Impact of Credit Default Swap Trading on Loan Syndication

Daniel Streitz

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

We analyze the impact of credit default swap (CDS) trading on bank syndication activity. Theoretically, the effect of CDS trading is ambiguous: on the one hand, CDS can improve risk-sharing and hence be a more flexible risk management tool than loan syndication; on the other hand, CDS trading can reduce bank monitoring incentives. We document that banks are less likely to syndicate loans and retain a larger loan fraction once CDS are actively traded on the borrower’s debt. We then discern the risk management and the moral hazard channel. We find no evidence that the reduced likelihood to syndicate loans is a result of increased moral hazard problems.
Original languageEnglish
JournalReview of Finance
Volume20
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)265-286
Number of pages22
ISSN1572-3097
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • G21-banks
  • Depository institutions
  • Micro finance institutions
  • Mortgages
  • G32-financing policy
  • Financial risk and risk management
  • Capital and ownership structure
  • Value of firms
  • Goodwill

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