The impact of technical defaults on dividend policy

Laarni Bulan and Tyler Hull

Journal of Banking & Finance, 2013, vol. 37, issue 3, 814-823

Abstract: This paper examines how loan covenant violations impact firm dividend policy. Using contract-level loan data for nonfinancial firms in the US, this study provides evidence that the occurrence of a covenant violation significantly increases the likelihood of a dividend reduction in the subsequent quarter. Moreover, we show that the degree of creditor–shareholder conflict and firm financial constraints are important determinants of dividend cuts upon technical default. Additionally, this paper finds the tendency of dividend cuts upon technical default weakened after the repeal of the Glass–Steagall Act. These findings suggest that loan covenants serve a critical role in mitigating creditor–shareholder conflicts.

Keywords: Dividend policy; Loan covenants; Technical default (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G21 G35 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:37:y:2013:i:3:p:814-823

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2012.10.014

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