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How to increase the efficiency of bond covenants: a proposal for the Italian corporate market

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  • Flavio Bazzana
  • Marco Palmieri

Abstract

Covenants are particular clauses in the debt contracts of firms that restrict business policy, giving creditors the possibility of putting precise actions into force (normally early repayment) when the covenants are violated. The main purpose of covenants given in the literature is to resolve the conflicts of interest between shareholders and bondholders. Lack of coordination between bondholders may, however, reduce the efficiency of these instruments. We propose an application of the Italian law allowing the insertion of a mandatory representation into the new financial hybrid contracts to give an investment firm the right to act with full power on behalf of the bondholders. We show the impact of this proposal using a formalised example for the issuance of a bond with a covenant for a firm. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012

Suggested Citation

  • Flavio Bazzana & Marco Palmieri, 2012. "How to increase the efficiency of bond covenants: a proposal for the Italian corporate market," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 327-346, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:ejlwec:v:34:y:2012:i:2:p:327-346
    DOI: 10.1007/s10657-010-9210-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Flavio Bazzana & Luigi Mittone & Luciano Andreozzi, 2015. "The Freeze-out Bond Exchange Offer: An Experimental Approach," Journal of Behavioral Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(2), pages 150-162, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bond covenants; Bondholder’s trustee; G12; K22; G32;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • K22 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Business and Securities Law
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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