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Mind the Gap: The Difference between U.S. and European Loan Rates

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Listed:
  • Tobias Berg
  • Anthony Saunders
  • Sascha Steffen
  • Daniel Streitz

Abstract

We analyze pricing differences between U.S. and European syndicated loans over the 1992–2014 period. We explicitly distinguish credit lines from term loans. For credit lines, U.S. borrowers pay significantly higher spreads, but lower fees, resulting in similar total costs of borrowing in both markets. Credit line usage is more cyclical in the United States, which provides a rationale for the pricing structure difference. For term loans, we analyze the channels of the cross-country loan price differential and document the importance of: the composition of term loan borrowers and the loan supply by institutional investors and foreign banks.

Suggested Citation

  • Tobias Berg & Anthony Saunders & Sascha Steffen & Daniel Streitz, 2017. "Mind the Gap: The Difference between U.S. and European Loan Rates," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 30(3), pages 948-987.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:rfinst:v:30:y:2017:i:3:p:948-987.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets

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