The Conundrum of Covered Bonds

26 Pages Posted: 19 Aug 2010 Last revised: 28 Dec 2014

Date Written: May 31, 2012

Abstract

Covered bonds, which have been part of European finance since the time of Frederick the Great, are now being widely touted as the answer to securitization’s imperfections. There is great confusion, though, about the nature of covered bonds and their relationship to secured bond financing and securitization. This article attempts to demystify covered bonds, examining how they fit within a larger financing framework, analyzing their legal rights and obligations, and comparing their costs and benefits. The benefits of covered bonds are similar to those of securitization; both can access low-cost capital market funding with low risk to their investors, and both can be used to regenerate lending markets. The costs of covered bonds may be higher, though, because the “dynamic” collateral pools and “dual” recourse to the issuer that protect covered bonds shift virtually all risk to unsecured creditors. Whether that risk should be allowed to be shifted so asymmetrically is a policy question for any nascent covered bond regime.

Keywords: securitization products, bond finance

Suggested Citation

Schwarcz, Steven L., The Conundrum of Covered Bonds (May 31, 2012). Business Lawyer, Vol. 66, p. 562, May 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1661018

Steven L. Schwarcz (Contact Author)

Duke University School of Law ( email )

210 Science Drive
Box 90362
Durham, NC 27708
United States
919-613-7060 (Phone)
919-613-7231 (Fax)

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