Agent Bank Behavior in Bank Loan Syndications

Using Shared National Credit (SNC) Program data from 1995 to 2000, we extend previous empirical work on bank loan syndications. First, we examine recent trends in the volume and examiner-based credit quality of loans syndicated through the banking system. Second, we estimate a panel regression model to explain changes in an agent bank's retained share of a syndicated loan in terms of information asymmetries, loan credit quality, capital constraints, and loan age and loan maturity. We find that these variables are significant determinants of the proportion of a SNC loan retained by an agent bank for its portfolio over time