THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Zombie Banks
After the last financial crisis, interest rates went from 5.25% to near 0% allowing bad companies to survive by borrowing money at low rates. Companies like Sears and Blackberry, who produced or sold items that no one really wanted, continued to exist despite waning demand. Eventually, companies like this do see a rebound in buyers of their products thanks to a large reduction in prices. But as goods and services are dumped into markets at lower, more attractive prices, enough cash is generated for the companies to pay their debt service, and amend and extend debt. Quite inexpensively in a low rate environment.
