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Optimal Capital Structure and the Term Structure of Interest Rates

Author

Listed:
  • Xin Wang
  • Chris Downing

    (Economics Rice University)

Abstract

In this paper we study corporate debt values, capital structure, and the term structure of interest rates in a unified framework. We employ numerical techniques to compute the firm's optimal capital structure and the value of its long-term risky debt and yield spreads when the value of the firm's unleveraged assets and the instantaneous default-free interest rate are risk factors. Debt and leveraged firm value are thus explicitly linked to properties of the firm's unleveraged assets, the term structure of default-free interest rates, taxes, bankruptcy costs, payout rates, and bond covenants. The results clarify the relationship between a firm's capital structure and movements in the term structure and other important aspects of the capital structure decision

Suggested Citation

  • Xin Wang & Chris Downing, 2005. "Optimal Capital Structure and the Term Structure of Interest Rates," Computing in Economics and Finance 2005 38, Society for Computational Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:sce:scecf5:38
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    File URL: http://repec.org/sce2005/up.6335.1104942328.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stohs, Mark Hoven & Mauer, David C, 1996. "The Determinants of Corporate Debt Maturity Structure," The Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 69(3), pages 279-312, July.
    2. Black, Fischer & Cox, John C, 1976. "Valuing Corporate Securities: Some Effects of Bond Indenture Provisions," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 31(2), pages 351-367, May.
    3. John C. Cox & Jonathan E. Ingersoll Jr. & Stephen A. Ross, 2005. "A Theory Of The Term Structure Of Interest Rates," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Sudipto Bhattacharya & George M Constantinides (ed.), Theory Of Valuation, chapter 5, pages 129-164, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    4. Merton, Robert C, 1974. "On the Pricing of Corporate Debt: The Risk Structure of Interest Rates," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 29(2), pages 449-470, May.
    5. Leland, Hayne E & Toft, Klaus Bjerre, 1996. "Optimal Capital Structure, Endogenous Bankruptcy, and the Term Structure of Credit Spreads," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 51(3), pages 987-1019, July.
    6. Longstaff, Francis A & Schwartz, Eduardo S, 1995. "A Simple Approach to Valuing Risky Fixed and Floating Rate Debt," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 50(3), pages 789-819, July.
    7. Chris Downing & Richard Stanton & Nancy Wallace, 2005. "An Empirical Test of a Two-Factor Mortgage Valuation Model: How Much Do House Prices Matter?," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 33(4), pages 681-710, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Capital Structure; Term Structure; Parallel Processing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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