Creditor Control of Corporate Acquisitions
Review of Financial Studies, Forthcoming
70 Pages Posted: 3 Oct 2017 Last revised: 23 Mar 2022
Date Written: May 23, 2021
Abstract
We examine the impact of creditor control rights on corporate acquisitions. Nearly 75% of loan agreements include restrictions that limit borrower acquisition decisions throughout the life of the contract. Following a financial covenant violation, creditors use their bargaining power to tighten these restrictions and limit acquisition activity, particularly deals expected to earn negative announcement returns. Firms that do announce an acquisition after violating a financial covenant earn 1.8% higher stock returns, on average, and do not pursue less risky deals. We conclude that creditors use contractual rights and the renegotiation process to limit value-destroying acquisitions driven by managerial agency problems.
Keywords: acquisitions, control rights, corporate governance, covenant violations, creditors
JEL Classification: G21, G31, G32, G34
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation