This paper explores the relationship between optimal leverage and credit risk under ownership links. It develops a structural model of a parent and a subsidiary, which issues debt in its own name under a guarantee by the parent. We find that zero leverage can be optimal for the guarantor, while...

The most common approach for default dependence modelling is at present copula functions. Within this framework, the paper examines factor copulas, which are the industry standard, together with their latest development, namely the incorporation of sudden jumps to default instead of a pure...

The most common approach for default dependence modelling is at present copula functions. Within this framework, the paper examines factor copulas, which are the industry standard, together with their latest development, namely the incorporation of sudden jumps to default instead of a pure...

This paper analyzes how combining firms into either groups or conglomerates affects their credit standing, as measured by their de- fault probabilities, recovery rates and credit spreads. Each combina- tion offers protection against default to its affiliates, and issues debt to optimize the...

Structural models of credit risk are known to present both vanishing spreads at very short maturities and a poor spread fit over longer maturities. The former shortcoming, which is due to the diffusive behavior assumed for asset values, can be circumvented by considering discontinuous assets. In...