My credit but your problem: the real effects of credit risk trading

Creditors are increasingly transferring debt cash flow rights to other market participants while retaining control rights. We use the market for credit default swaps (CDSs) as a laboratory to show that such debt decoupling causes large adverse effects on firms whose shareholders have high bargaining power. After the start of CDS trading, the distance-to-default, investment, and market value of firms with powerful shareholders drop by 7.9%, 7%, and 8.8% compared to other firms. These findings are consistent with an "empty creditor problem" where creditors overinsure to strengthen their position in negotiations with powerful shareholders.