FINANCING AND INVESTMENT STRATEGIES UNDER CREDITOR-MAXIMIZED LIQUIDATION

Abstract

We develop a contingent claim model to examine the interaction between financing and investment where equity holders decide when to default and debt holders decide when to liquidate as well as maximize the liquidation value. We show that if the debt holders maximize the residual value at liquidation, an increase in liquidation value increases the amount of debt issuance and investment quantity ex ante, delaying corporate investment. This relationship is based on the fact that an increase in the liquidation value decreases the credit spread of debt holders. These results fit well with those of existing empirical studies.