Kindly explain why zero coupon bond is so special:
"For the exercise price, the debt of the company is taken. In its simplest form, the assumption is that the borrowing is in the form of zero coupon debt, i.e., a discount bond. In practice such debt is not used as a primary source of company finance and so we calculate the value of an equivalent bond with the same yield and term to maturity as the company’s existing debt. The exercise price in valuing the business as a call option is the value of the outstanding debt calculated as the present value of a zero coupon bond offering the same yield as the current debt."
"For the exercise price, the debt of the company is taken. In its simplest form, the assumption is that the borrowing is in the form of zero coupon debt, i.e., a discount bond. In practice such debt is not used as a primary source of company finance and so we calculate the value of an equivalent bond with the same yield and term to maturity as the company’s existing debt. The exercise price in valuing the business as a call option is the value of the outstanding debt calculated as the present value of a zero coupon bond offering the same yield as the current debt."
