New Evidence on the Market Impact of Convertible Bond Issues in the U.S.

Abstract

This study provides new evidence on the market impact of new issues of convertible bonds of U.S. listed firms. We examine on the market reaction surrounding the announcement dates and the issue dates of convertible bonds. The evidence suggests that firms experience negative abnormal returns around the announcement of new issues of convertible bonds. Abnormal returns are found to be a function of firm market value, price-to-book ratio, issue size, as well as the state of the overall market. Simulations using convertible arbitrage strategies suggests that investors could take advantage of these negative abnormal returns by going long on the firm's convertible bond and short on the firm's stock at the issue date.