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Are sustainability‐linked loans designed to effectively incentivize corporate sustainability? A framework for review

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  • Alix Auzepy
  • Christina E. Bannier
  • Fabio Martin

Abstract

This paper analyzes sustainability‐linked loans (SLLs), a new category of debt instrument that incorporates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations. Using a large sample of loans issued between 2017 and 2022, we assess the design of SLLs by evaluating their key performance indicators (KPIs) using a comprehensive quality score. Our findings suggest that SLLs only partially rely on KPIs that generate credible sustainability incentives. We document that SLL borrowers do not significantly improve their ESG performance post issuance and show that stock markets are rather indifferent to the issuance of SLLs by EU borrowers, while SLL issuance announcements by US borrowers are met with significantly negative abnormal returns by investors. These findings call into question the beneficial sustainability and signaling effects that borrowers may hope to achieve by issuing ESG‐linked debt.

Suggested Citation

  • Alix Auzepy & Christina E. Bannier & Fabio Martin, 2023. "Are sustainability‐linked loans designed to effectively incentivize corporate sustainability? A framework for review," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 52(4), pages 643-675, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:finmgt:v:52:y:2023:i:4:p:643-675
    DOI: 10.1111/fima.12437
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    Cited by:

    1. Noor Faiza M. Ja'afar & Fatin Nadhrah Mohd Khir & Fatmawati Jusoh & Maslinawati Mohamad, 2024. "Sustainability-Linked Loans for EV Manufacturers: An Emerging Trend in Banking," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(11), pages 1549-1556, November.
    2. Viktoriia Myronchuk & Oleksandr Yatsenko & Dmytro Riznyk & Olena Hurina & Andrii Frolov, 2024. "Financing Sustainable Development: Analysis of Modern Approaches and Practices in the Context of Financial and Credit Activities," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 14(5), pages 317-329, September.
    3. Frederic de Mariz & Pieter Bosmans & Daniel Leal & Saumya Bisaria, 2024. "Reforming Sustainability-Linked Bonds by Strengthening Investor Trust," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-22, July.
    4. Xia, Bing & Ma, Qi & Pan, Yong Jun, 2025. "Design of sustainable performance targets: Mitigating greenwashing in sustainability-linked loans," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    5. George, Ammu & Huang, Jingong & Nie, He & Xie, Taojun, 2025. "Can sustainability-linked lending reconcile environmental and financial motives?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 104(PB).
    6. Kim, Sehoon & Kumar, Nitish & Lee, Jongsub & Oh, Junho, 2025. "ESG lending," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    7. Artiga Gonzalez, Tanja & Capera Romero, Laura & Karmaziene, Egle & Yuan, Xin, 2025. "Green gains: The impact of REITs' environmental performance on sustainability-linked loan interest rates," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • 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
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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