Thesis (Ph. D.)--Lehigh University, 2006. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-113).

In this thesis we provide insights into the behavior of financial managers of utility companies by studying their decisions to redeem callable preferred shares. In particular, we investigate whether or not an option pricing based model of the call decision, with managers who maximize shareholder value, does a better job of explaining callable preferred share prices and call decisions than do other models of the decision. In order to perform these tests, we extend an empirical technique introduced by Rust (1987) to include the use of information from preferred share prices in addition to the call decisions. The model we develop to value the option embedded in a callable preferred share differs from standard models in two ways. First, as suggested in Kraus (1983), we explicitly account for transaction costs associated with a redemption. Second, we account for state variables that are observed by the decision makers but not by the preferred shareholders. We interpret these unobservable state variables as the benefits and costs associated with a change in capital structure that can accompany a call decision. When we add this variable, our empirical model changes from one which predicts exactly when a share should be called to one which predicts the probability of a call as the function of the observable state. These two modifications of the standard model result in predictions of calls, and therefore of callable preferred share prices, that are consistent with several previously unexplained features of the data; we show that the predictive power of the model is improved in a statistical sense by adding these features to the model. The pricing and call probability functions from our model do a good job of describing call decisions and preferred share prices for several utilities. Using data from shares of the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PGE) we obtain reasonable estimates for the transaction costs associated with a call. Using a formal empirical test, we are able to conclude that the managers of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company clearly take into account the value of the option to delay the call when making their call decisions. Overall, the model seems to be robust to tests of its specification and does a better job of describing the data than do simpler models of the decision making process. Limitations in the data do not allow us to perform the same tests in a larger cross-section of utility companies. However, we are able to estimate transaction cost parameters for many firms and these do not seem to vary significantly from those of PGE. This evidence does not cause us to reject our hypothesis that managerial behavior is consistent with a model in which managers maximize shareholder value.

In this thesis we provide insights into the behavior of financial managers of utility companies by studying their decisions to redeem callable preferred shares. In particular, we investigate whether or not an option pricing based model of the call decision, with managers who maximize shareholder value, does a better job of explaining callable preferred share prices and call decisions than do other models of the decision. In order to perform these tests, we extend an empirical technique introduced by Rust (1987) to include the use of information from preferred share prices in addition to the call decisions. The model we develop to value the option embedded in a callable preferred share differs from standard models in two ways. First, as suggested in Kraus (1983), we explicitly account for transaction costs associated with a redemption. Second, we account for state variables that are observed by the decision makers but not by the preferred shareholders. We interpret these unobservable state variables as the benefits and costs associated with a change in capital structure that can accompany a call decision. When we add this variable, our empirical model changes from one which predicts exactly when a share should be called to one which predicts the probability of a call as the function of the observable state. These two modifications of the standard model result in predictions of calls, and therefore of callable preferred share prices, that are consistent with several previously unexplained features of the data; we show that the predictive power of the model is improved in a statistical sense by adding these features to the model. The pricing and call probability functions from our model do a good job of describing call decisions and preferred share prices for several utilities. Using data from shares of the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PGE) we obtain reasonable estimates for the transaction costs associated with a call. Using a formal empirical test, we are able to conclude that the managers of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company clearly take into account the value of the option to delay the call when making their call decisions. Overall, the model seems to be robust to tests of its specification and does a better job of describing the data than do simpler models of the decision making process. Limitations in the data do not allow us to perform the same tests in a larger cross-section of utility companies. However, we are able to estimate transaction cost parameters for many firms and these do not seem to vary significantly from those of PGE. This evidence does not cause us to reject our hypothesis that managerial behavior is consistent with a model in which managers maximize shareholder value. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

Callable bond is a type of bond which allows an issuer to redeem its bonds prior to maturity for specified price. Such a type of bond is very rare in Czech Republic. This scarcity is caused by undeveloped domestic bond market and also by domestic investors being conservative, preferring guaranteed income. Callable bond does not offer such certainty in cash flow. Therefore the aim of this diploma thesis is to provide a complex view on callable bonds, which is hitherto absent in Czech literature. This thesis starts with introduction of the general terms related to callable bonds. In the subsequent chapter, various uses of callable bonds follow. The third part analyses the biggest callable bond market in the world -- the US callable bond market -- and characterizes every particular sector of the market. The last part of the thesis deals with callable bonds' valuation and its advanced analytical measures that are constructed in connection with valuation models.

Abstract We propose an algorithm to price and analyze the performance of auto-callable structured _nancial products. The algorithm contains Monte-Carlo simulations in order to reproduce, as probable as possible, a future product. This model is then compared to other, previously presented models. The di_erent in-data parameters together with a time dependency study is then performed to evaluate what one might expect when investing in these products. Numerical results conclude that, the risks taken by the investor closely reect the potential return for each product. When constructing these products for the near future, one must closely evaluate the demand from the investors i.e. evaluate the level of risk that the investors are willing to take.

This study focuses on the role of structured derivative securities to meet diverse corporate financing objectives in the light of agency theory and asymmetric information. The focus is on the nonconvertible callable-puttable fixed-coupon bonds. The primary objective is to discern the marginal role of the put and put-deferred features in addressing the agency issues and asymmetric information. A sample of (159) securities issued over the period (1977-2005) are examined using Merton's (1974) structural contingent claims valuation model. The put option as well as the deferred put option incorporated in these securities is found to mitigate the asset substitution issue. It is also found that these contract features provide considerable insurance against the asymmetric information about the firm's downside risk. Specifically, the effects of asset substitution are mitigated because the put option reduces sensitivity of the security's value to the changes in the firm's volatility. Prior to this study, this effect was believed to be driven primarily by the conversion feature in the convertible bonds and the preferred stocks. In addition, the long-term performance of the underlying common stock indicates systematic negative performance for the protracted periods both prior and subsequent to the issuance, yet it is found that this decline in the equity value has only a limited negative impact on the security.

本文採用Lognormal Forward LIBOR Model (LFM) 利率模型，針對可贖回利差型結構債券進行相關的評價與避險分析。所選取的評價商品為勞埃德 TSB 銀行所發行的「五年期雙區間鎖定可贖回債券」，模型參數部分利用市場上既有的資料來進行校準，使模型表現其能更貼近市場利率的走勢，評價過程採用蒙地卡羅模擬來得到未來的現金流量，並搭配Longstaff and Schwartz(2001)所提出的最小平方蒙地卡羅來處理同時具有可贖回與路徑相依的特性。 最後的評價結果可以發現，考慮發行商的贖回權下，一元美元本金的商品價值只有0.81241美元，不考慮贖回權下價值為1.1195美元，可見發行商的贖回權非常不利於投資人。而模擬結果也顯示發行商將在前幾期即進行贖回，並不會讓投資人持有到到期日。因此投資人面對眾多的金融商品時，要以符合個人需求下去做出選擇。 / This article presents an analytical valuation of “5 Years USD Callable Dual Range Lock Down Steepner Note”, a callable spread note, issued by Lloyds TSB bank under the Lognormal Forward LIBOR (LFM). Parameters of the model are calibrated by using existing data, making sure of the model performance to fit market interest rates well. The main method to get the future cash flows is the use of Monte Carlo simulations, and adapting the least squares Monte Carlo simulations proposed by Longstaff and Schwartz (2001) to deal with features of callable and path- dependence. Consider the call right of the issuer, the results present that the price per 1 dollar principal is only 0.93154 dollar and 1.15109 dollar without the call right. In summary, the call right of issuer deeply damage investors’ returns. The simulated result also show that issuer will redeem the product in early quarters so that investors loss much future interest. Therefore, investors must make a choice to fit his own needs when facing many financial products.

2014年保險法第146條之4修正，增列保險業依保險法規定投資於國內證券市場上市或上櫃買賣之外幣計價股權或債券憑證之投資金額，可不計入其國外投資限額。本研究探討台灣壽險業投資外幣計價國際債券不納入國外投資限額對於台幣公債市場籌資之影響，並分析壽險業投資國際債券之贖回風險。 主要研究結果發現：(1)開放投資國際債券後，壽險業資金運用增加國外投資，但減持公債及國庫券。依據統計分析，顯示壽險業資金運用於國外投資佔比大幅增加時，除專案運用及公共投資外，其餘項目之佔比皆減少。其中台灣公債及國庫券佔比與國外投資佔比呈高度負相關。(2)壽險業對公債需求程度影響國庫籌資之成本，需求程度越低，國庫長天期籌資成本越高。透過複迴歸模型分析發現，壽險持券比(即壽險業持有公債餘額佔公債未償還餘額比例)越低，30年期公債殖利率越高。 透過本文模型，投資國際債券時，應考量可贖回國際債券相對公債之加碼、閉鎖期、國際債券再度發行之可能性與未來市場利率可能走低之幅度。以投資30年期債券為例，當可贖回國際債券相對公債之加碼減少，閉鎖期縮短，利率走跌幅度增加時，贖回風險將增加。因可贖回國際債券之高利率僅為收益率錯覺，利率走低時之贖回風險將抵銷此高利率。依據2014年至2016年債券市場資訊，本文模型評估投資人提前贖回風險為52.45bps。 / The 2014 amendment of Article 146-4 of Insurance Act extending the overseas investment ceiling to the value for foreign currency denominated listed or over-the-counter certificates of domestic stocks or bonds that are invested in by insurance enterprises in accordance with provisions of Insurance Act. This paper investigates the impact of funding in Taiwan government bond market under the overseas investment ceiling with the exclusion of international bonds investment in Taiwan life insurance industry, and analyzes the call risk of international bonds. The main results show that: (1)After the 2014 amendment of Article 146-4 of Insurance Act, foreign investments are increasing, while government bonds holdings are decreasing in investment portfolio of life insurance industry. Based on statistical analysis, as the ratio of foreign investments surging, only the ratio of authorized projects or public investment is increasing, others are falling. Especially, the ratio of government bonds and that of foreign investment are strongly negative correlation. (2) Demand of government bond of life insurance industry has impact on the funding cost of Taiwan government. The lower the demand, the higher the funding cost. Through multiple regression model, the result shows, the lower the bond holding ratio of life insurance industry, the higher the yield of Taiwan 30-year government bonds. According to the model in this paper, spread between callable international bond and government bond, lock-up period, the probability of re-issuance in international bond market, and the downtrend of interest rate should be all considered when investing in international bonds. The high yield of callable international bond is yield illusion to investors,since is largely offset by call risk. According to the model with bond market data between 2014 to 2016, the assessment of call risk is 52.45bps.

大陸的金融市場近年開放快速，推出的產品也漸趨多樣化，主要在市場上較為活躍的是股權衍生性商品與利率衍生性商品。在2007下半年，爆發次級房貸風暴，美國採取降息的手段來挽救經濟，美國的經濟仍屬疲弱，對於全球，乃至於大陸都有一定程度的影響。此時，對一般投資人而言，投資若能同時具有保本的功能，將具有相當的吸引力。 本文主要是針對大陸金融市場已發行的衍生性商品做為評價與分析，能夠讓一般的投資人知道目前大陸的金融產品發展的情況。並且分析商品適合的投資人，以及所面對的風險；對發行者來說，則探討其獲利表現與發行策略的分析。 分析的產品為興業銀行發行的掛鉤紅籌股的結構債與東亞銀行發行的每日區間計息債券以3個月期LIBOR標的。分別以蒙地卡羅模擬法與LIBOR Market Model(也稱為BGM模型)進行分析，探討發行者的利潤與何種投資人適合購買。

La tesi ha ad oggetto l’analisi delle fattispecie statutarie di riscatto azionario nella s.p.a. dopo la riforma del 2003. Quest’ultima ha anzitutto introdotto una disciplina destinata genericamente a tutte le ipotesi statutarie in cui si preveda un potere di riscatto a vantaggio della società o di soci (art. 2437-sexies c.c.). L’esegesi di tale disciplina e l’indagine sui possibili utilizzi, in chiave funzionale, delle azioni riscattabili costituiscono il primo obiettivo del lavoro. Per quanto attiene al c.d. riscatto obbligatorio di azioni si è invece assistito alla sola emersione di alcune specifiche ipotesi legali (ad es., art. 2355-bis, comma 2°, c.c.). Si dimostra, tuttavia, che non sussistono ragioni per negare, in linea generale, la possibilità per l’autonomia privata di avvalersi di tale meccanismo di riscatto in ipotesi diverse da quelle espressamente tipizzate. La ricostruzione della disciplina delle fattispecie statutarie atipiche di riscatto obbligatorio e la loro valorizzazione quali peculiari strumenti di disinvestimento dalla società - con caratteristiche non del tutto sovrapponibili al recesso convenzionale - costituiscono il secondo indirizzo d’analisi seguito nello sviluppo della tesi. Nell’affrontare i vari profili trattati, si tiene in attenta considerazione la disciplina comunitaria in tema di riscatto azionario, nonché il dato comparatistico. / The scrutiny of the rules concerning the redemption of shares in the Italian public companies (s.p.a.) after the statutory reform of 2003 is the main focus of the thesis. On the one hand , the reform has introduced a general discipline concerning the provisions of the bylaws that provide a call for redemption of issued shares (art. 2437-sexies c.c.). Under this general aspect the first goal of the work is to analyze both the new general discipline concerning the callable redeemable shares and their functional use. On the other hand, the reform has ruled only a few typical hypothesis of the so called mandatory redemption (for example, art. 2355, par. 2 , c.c.). However, the work points out that there is no reason why to deny private autonomy to use this second form of redemption in cases other than those explicitly ruled. So, the second objective of the thesis is to reconstruct the discipline of the otherwise agreements concerning the matter of the mandatory redemption provisions. The thesis points out that the puttable redeemable shares represent a tool for divestment from public companies with autonomous characteristics in respect to the withdrawal from corporation clauses. To address the various issues considered, are taken into careful consideration both the EU rules concerning share redemption, and the comparative law perspective .