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Bank Compensation for Penalty-Free Loan Prepayment: Theory and Tests

Author

Listed:
  • Thorburn, Karin S
  • Eckbo, B Espen
  • Su, Xunhua

Abstract

While institutional tranches in term loans typically include a cancellation fee, commercial banks allow penalty-free prepayment in 90% of their tranche-A loan facilities. We show that compensating banks for a penalty-free prepayment option by raising the initial loan rate increases the prepayment risk and may result in credit rationing. However, combining a lower loan rate with an upfront fee allows the bank to break even. Empirically, upfront fees increase in prepayment risk and are lower in credit lines and performance-sensitive debt, as predicted. Moreover, high industry merger intensity, which exogenously increases prepayment risk, further raises the upfront fee.

Suggested Citation

  • Thorburn, Karin S & Eckbo, B Espen & Su, Xunhua, 2021. "Bank Compensation for Penalty-Free Loan Prepayment: Theory and Tests," CEPR Discussion Papers 16300, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:16300
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Credit rationing; Upfront fee; Prepayment risk; Performance-pricing; Cancellation fee;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • D86 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Economics of Contract Law
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • 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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