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Corporate Loan Securitization and the Standardization of Financial Covenants

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  • ZAHN BOZANIC
  • MARIA LOUMIOTI
  • FLORIN P. VASVARI

Abstract

We examine whether syndicated loans securitized through collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) have more standardized financial covenants. We proxy for the standardization of covenants using the textual similarity of their contractual definitions. We find that securitized loans are associated with higher covenant standardization than nonsecuritized institutional loans. In addition, we show that CLOs with more diverse or frequently rebalanced portfolios are more likely to purchase loans with standardized covenants, potentially because standardization alleviates information processing costs related to loan monitoring and screening. We also document that covenant standardization is associated with greater loan and CLO note rating agreement between credit rating agencies, further supporting the relation between lower information costs and covenant standardization. Overall, our study provides evidence that loan securitization is related to the design of standardized financial covenants.

Suggested Citation

  • Zahn Bozanic & Maria Loumioti & Florin P. Vasvari, 2018. "Corporate Loan Securitization and the Standardization of Financial Covenants," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(1), pages 45-83, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:joares:v:56:y:2018:i:1:p:45-83
    DOI: 10.1111/1475-679X.12186
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    2. Müller, Isabella & Nguyen, Huyen & Nguyen, Trang, 2024. "Carbon transition risk and corporate loan securitization," IWH Discussion Papers 22/2022, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH), revised 2024.
    3. Kang, Jung Koo & Loumioti, Maria & Wittenberg-Moerman, Regina, 2021. "The harmonization of lending standards within banks through mandated loan-level transparency," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(1).
    4. Jung Koo Kang & Christopher D. Williams & Regina Wittenberg-Moerman, 2021. "CDS trading and nonrelationship lending dynamics," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(1), pages 258-292, March.
    5. Degl'Innocenti, Marta & Fiordelisi, Franco & Song, Wei & Zhou, Si, 2023. "Shareholder litigation and bank risk," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    6. Angela Gallo & Min Park, 2023. "CLO (Collateralized Loan Obligation) Market and Corporate Lending," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 55(5), pages 1077-1118, August.
    7. de Jong, Abe & Kooijmans, Tim & Veld, Chris, 2022. "Legal risk and information spillover through private lender reports," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).

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