Using a sample of non-U.S. firms from 22 countries during 2003–2007, we examine the effect of firm-level governance on various features of loan contracting in the international loan market. We find that banks charge lower loan rates, offer larger and longer-maturity loans, and impose fewer...

This study examines the impact of mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on bank loan contractual terms. Our sample covers more than 20,000 bank loans for borrowers from 23 countries that mandate IFRS adoption and 16 countries that do not mandate IFRS adoption...

In a model of dual agency problems where borrower-lenders and bank-nonbank incentives may conflict, we predict a hockey stick relation between bank skin in the game and covenant tightness. As bank participation declines covenant tightness increases until reaching a low threshold, at which point...

Recent years have seen a new trend in commercial bank lending—loans with no financial covenants. These covenant light, or cov-lite, loans raise concerns about excessive risk to lenders due to lack of monitoring. In this study, we examine the consequences of cov-lite loans. Focusing on rated,...

Using a data set that records banks' ongoing requests of information from small commercial borrowers, we examine when banks use financial statements to monitor borrowers after loan origination. We find that banks request financial statements for half the loans and this variation is related to...

This article investigates the relationship between discretionary loan loss provisions and bank intangibles among African banks. Prior studies examine how intangible assets affect firms' profitability and valuation decisions with almost no focus on the role of loan loss provisions. We investigate...

Policy uncertainty (PU) is an increasingly important issue in many economies. Extensive evidence indicates that higher PU is associated with future negative macroeconomic and microeconomic conditions. In this paper, we examine how PU affects banks' accruals for loan losses. Consistent with banks...

Does enhancing banks' information sets and understanding of credit risks improve loan loss recognition? We study this question using a global dataset of staggered initiations and coverage increases of public credit registries (PCRs). Mandated by national regulators, PCRs collect borrower and...

I examine how credit reporting affects where firms access credit and how lenders contract with them. I use within firm-time and lender-time tests that exploit lenders joining a credit bureau and sharing information in a staggered pattern. I find information sharing reduces relationship-switching...

Recent evidence suggests that investors struggle to process complex financial disclosures. Relative to equity and public debt investors, banks have unique advantages in acquiring information and can impose contractual terms to mitigate information frictions. We investigate whether financial...