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Performance-sensitive debt: The intertwined effects of performance measurement and pricing grid asymmetry

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  • Bannier, Christina E.
  • Wiemann, Markus

Abstract

This paper studies the use of performance pricing (PP) provisions in debt contracts and compares accounting-based with rating-based pricing designs. We find that rating-based provisions are used by volatile-growth borrowers and allow for stronger spread increases over the credit period. Accounting-based provisions are employed by opaque-growth borrowers and stipulate stronger spread reductions. Further, a higher spread-increase potential in rating-based contracts lowers the spread at the loan's inception and improves the borrower's performance later on. In contrast, a higher spread-decrease potential in accounting-based contracts lowers the initial spread and raises the borrower's leverage afterwards. The evidence indicates that rating-based contracts are indeed employed for different reasons than accounting-based contracts: the former to signal a borrower's quality, the latter to mitigate investment inefficiencies.

Suggested Citation

  • Bannier, Christina E. & Wiemann, Markus, 2014. "Performance-sensitive debt: The intertwined effects of performance measurement and pricing grid asymmetry," CFS Working Paper Series 476, Center for Financial Studies (CFS).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:cfswop:476
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Lee, Edward & Pappas, Kostas & Xu, Alice Liang, 2020. "Foreign Lenders’ adoption of performance pricing provisions in syndicated loans," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Performance pricing; performance-sensitive debt; accounting data; credit ratings; underinvestment; collateral;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • M40 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - General

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