Patrick Bolton and Martin Oehmke

April 3, 2013

Abstract

Derivative contracts, swaps, and repos enjoy special status in bankruptcy: they are exempt from the automatic stay and, if collateralized, are effectively senior to virtually all other claims. We propose a simple corporate fi…nance model to assess the effect of these exemptions on a …rm’s cost of borrowing and incentives to engage in efficient derivative transactions. We show that, while derivatives are value-enhancing risk management tools, effective seniority for derivatives can lead to inefficiencies because it may transfer credit risk to the …rm’s debtholders, even though this risk could be borne more efficiently in the derivative market. Effective seniority for derivatives is only efficient if it provides sufficient diversi…fication benefi…ts to derivative counterparties that provide hedging services.

View the paper here: Should Derivatives be Privileged in Bankruptcy?