We analyze how Dodd-Frank mandated risk retention affects the information investors extract from issuers' retention choices in the CMBS market. We show that the required retention level is both binding and stringent. Although this implies issuers cannot signal using the level of retention, we...

We show that commercial mortgage borrowers behave opportunistically in order to obtain principal reductions. To guide our empirical analysis, we develop a model in which lenders cannot perfectly observe borrowers' use values and renegotiation is costly. We then study the effects of a 2009 IRS...