Weak Credit Covenants

Using novel data on 1,240 credit agreements, the authors investigate sources of contractual complexity in the leveraged loan market. Although negative covenants are widespread, carve-out and deductible clauses that qualify them are as frequent. The authors propose simple and comprehensive measures of contractual weakness based on the usage of such clauses. The economic significance of the actions allowed by these clauses and the market-wide price reaction that followed the 2017 J.Crew restructuring, a high-profile use of such contractual elements, support this interpretation. Leveraged buyouts, large transactions, and nonbank funding are conducive to weaker contractual terms for credit agreements.