We examine the relation between accounting conservatism and creditor recovery rates for firms in default. We also test the link between conservatism and the length of distress resolution proceedings. We find creditors of firms with more conservative accounting prior to default have significantly...

We use machine learning methods to create a comprehensive measure of credit risk based on qualitative information disclosed in conference calls and in management's discussion and analysis section of the 10- K. In out-of-sample tests, we find that our measure improves our ability to predict...

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,...

Evidence of the effect of lender financial reporting incentives on debt contract design is sparse. We examine whether regulatory capital adequacy, a first-order reporting concern for banks, is associated with the strictness of financial covenants included in loan contracts. We provide evidence...

This study investigates the effect of the balance sheet approach, where financial reporting focuses on asset and liability valuation, on the usefulness of the capital adequacy ratio in the evaluation of bank default risk by credit rating agencies. We examine Japanese banks, which play the...

I examine the role of financial covenants in private debt contracts. I predict that financial covenants help limit ex ante uncertainty about the borrower's performance - the risk that the borrower will default on the loan - in the contract. I find that covenant inclusion is positively related to...