Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/107823 
Year of Publication: 
2014
Series/Report no.: 
Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper No. 14-110/VI/DSF79
Publisher: 
Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam and Rotterdam
Abstract: 
CoCo’s (contingent convertible capital) are designed to convert from debt to equity when banks need it most. Using a Diamond-Dybvig model cast in a global games framework, we show that while the CoCo conversion of the issuing bank may bring the bank back into compliance with capital requirements, it will nevertheless raise the probability of the bank being run, because conversion is a negative signal to depositors about asset quality. Moreover, conversion imposes a negative externality on other banks in the system in the likely case of correlated asset returns, so bank runs elsewhere in the banking system become more probable too and systemic risk will actually go up after conversion. CoCo’s thus lead to a direct conflict between micro- and macroprudential objectives. We also highlight that ex ante incentives to raise capital to stave off conversion depend critically on CoCo design. In many currently popular CoCo designs, wealth transfers after conversion actually flow from debt holders to equity holders, destroying the latter’s incentives to provide additional capital in times of stress. Finally the link between CoCo conversion and systemic risk highlights the tradeoffs that a regulator faces in deciding to convert CoCo’s, providing a possible explanation of regulatory forbearance.
Subjects: 
Contingent Convertible Capital
Contagion
Systemic Risk
Bank Runs
Global Games
JEL: 
G01
G21
G32
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
1.09 MB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.