Coupon Bond Default
Formula Reference

Default probability

Solve equation numerically for \(z\). Default probability is \(1-z/d\). \begin{eqnarray}\label{eqA80} P & = & \left(Iz + R(1-z/d)\right)\frac{1-z^N}{1-z} + z^N\\ P & = & \mbox{price per face value of the bond}\nonumber\\ I & = & \frac{C}{F}\nonumber\\ C & = & \mbox{coupon payment}\nonumber\\ F & = & \mbox{face value of the bond}\nonumber\\ R & = & \mbox{recovery rate, between 0 and 1}\nonumber\\ d & = & (1 + f)^{-1} = \mbox{coupon period discount factor}\nonumber\\ f & = & \mbox{risk free interest rate}\nonumber\\ z & = & p d\nonumber\\ p & = & \mbox{survival probability}\nonumber\\ 1 - p & = & \mbox{default probability}\nonumber\\ N & = & \mbox{number of remaining coupon payments}\nonumber \end{eqnarray}

Initial guess for z

\begin{eqnarray}\label{eqA90} z & = & \frac{P - R}{P - R/d + I}\\ P & = & \mbox{price per face value of the bond}\nonumber\\ I & = & \mbox{coupon interest rate} = \frac{C}{F}\nonumber\\ R & = & \mbox{recovery rate, between 0 and 1}\nonumber\\ d & = & (1 + f)^{-1} = \mbox{coupon period discount factor}\nonumber\\ f & = & \mbox{risk free interest rate}\nonumber \end{eqnarray}