Effects of law on corporate financing practices - International evidence from convertible bond issues

Firms can adjust their convertibles to be more debt-like or equity-like through several contract terms. In particular, by providing call protection, a convertible issuer can assure its convertible bondholders that it will not force them to become equity holders during the call protection period. The possibility of a forced conversion instituted by an early call should be more threatening to investors in an economy where local laws are biased against shareholders. I examine call protection terms in an international sample and find evidence consistent with the hypothesis that convertible bond design varies based on the features of local law.