This paper investigates whether the availability of credit insurance via credit default swaps (CDS) has inuenced the debt restructuring process in a sample of U.S. reference entities. Contrary to the predictions of the empty creditors theory, we do not find evidence that the presence of CDS...

The availability of credit insurance via credit default swaps (CDSs) has been closely associated with the emergence of empty creditors. We empirically investigate this issue by looking at the debt restructurings (distressed exchanges and bankruptcy filings) of rated, non-financial U.S. companies...