Original Research

Exploring contingent convertible bond alternatives for African banks

Francois J.N. Liebenberg, Gary W. van Vuuren, André Heymans
South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences | Vol 21, No 1 | a2286 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajems.v21i1.2286 | © 2018 Francois A Liebenberg, André Heymans, Gary W van Vuuren | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 10 January 2018 | Published: 20 August 2018

About the author(s)

Francois J.N. Liebenberg, Department of Risk Management, School of Economics, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, North-West University, South Africa
Gary W. van Vuuren, Department of Risk Management, School of Economics, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, North-West University, South Africa
André Heymans, Department of Risk Management, School of Economics, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, North-West University, South Africa

Abstract

Background: A variant of the contingent convertible bond, first proposed in 2011, is investigated: the Call Option Enhanced Reverse Convertible (COERC). Although issued as a bond, it converts to new shareholder’s equity if a bank’s market share of capital falls below a pre-specified trigger point.

 

Aim: COERCs avoid the problems with market-based triggers (e.g. sell-offs and death spirals) due to panic and market manipulation. Banks that issue COERCs have less incentive to choose investments that may be subject to large losses and disincentive problems, associated with the replenishment of shareholder’s equity after market declines (also known as debt overhang) are also avoided.

 

Setting: Proposed amendments to the COERC structure are suggested for the African market.

 

Methods: The data used were simulated, stylised values for a standard COERC. No market parameters are required, such as equity or debt levels or market volatility. Details of the stylised example are provided in Table 4 and Table 5 in the ‘results and discussion’ section.

 

Results: Both examples of floating coupons for COERCS would aid in the objective of issuing a security that is countercyclical in nature, as banks would avoid having to pay coupons in times of distress.

 

Conclusion: In addition to the recommendations of the Basel frameworks, CoCos have been considered and proposed as an additional measure to promote counter cyclicality in terms of capital composition in banks.


Keywords

contingent convertibles; CoCos; procyclicality; Basel III

Metrics

Total abstract views: 2373
Total article views: 3850

 

Crossref Citations

1. Assessing Contingent Convertible Bonds for Bank Recapitalization in Nigeria
Kabir Katata
Central Bank of Nigeria Journal of Applied Statistics  issue: Vol. 10 No. 1  first page: 119  year: 2019  
doi: 10.33429/Cjas.10119.6/6