Debt swaps refer to the exchange of debt, in the form of a loan or, more typically, of securities other than shares, for a new debt contract (i.e., debt-debt swap) or the exchange of debt for equity shares (i.e., debt-equity swap).
Debt swaps often call for writing down, or discounting, the value of the original debt instrument before the conversion to new debt or equity. Any holding loss from writing down the value of the original debt is recorded in the revaluation account