| |
Abstract:
For U.S. firms from 1988 to 2007, firms with stricter loan covenants had higher firm-level default recovery rates. Covenants were stricter, moreover, when set during downturns in the business cycle. This implies a negative dependence of recovery rates on lagged macroeconomic conditions. That is, bank loan contracts established in economic recessions have tight covenants, leading later to higher recovery rates. My empirical evidence suggests that private creditors have significant influence on firms' bankruptcy decisions through the channel of covenants in debt contracts.
Recovery rate, Bankruptcy, Loan covenant, Creditor control, Business cycle
|
| |
Abstract:
We offer a model and evidence on firms' optimal bankruptcy decisions. In the model, both the borrower and bank lenders can trigger a bankruptcy filing. We show that debt composition has significant influence on corporate bankruptcy decisions. For example, firms with a small share of bank debt as a fraction of total debt tend to voluntarily file for bankruptcy. When a firm depends heavily on bank debt, the bankruptcy boundary is more likely to be determined by the bank. Our results highlight the control rights of large private creditors in distressed firms.
Voluntary bankruptcy, Forced bankruptcy, Bankruptcy boundary, Debt structure, Creditor control
|
