A second difference involves flexibility. Most convertibles contain a call provision that
allows the issuer either to refund the debt or to force conversion, depending on the relationship
between the conversion value and call price. However, most warrants are not
callable, so firms must wait until maturity for the warrants to generate new equity capital.
Generally, maturities also differ between warrants and convertibles. Warrants typically
have much shorter maturities than convertibles, and warrants typically expire before their
accompanying debt matures. Warrants also provide for fewer future common shares than
do convertibles, because with convertibles all of the debt is converted to stock, whereas
debt remains outstanding when warrants are exercised. Together, these facts suggest that
debt-plus-warrant issuers are actually more interested in selling debt than in selling equity.