Agency theory and loan syndications: the case of South Africa.

Abstract

The market for syndicated loans has grown in the last two decades and is now a major source of funding for corporate organizations. As an important source of capital, an understanding of how this market operates is worth acquiring. Central to syndicated loans are the unique relationships that exist between the borrower, the lead arranger and the participant lenders. An analysis of these relationships and how these relationships affect loan syndications is also critical. The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of information asymmetries and the resulting agency problems on loan syndications in terms of volumes and, structure. This paper also explores the role of reputations of the in mitigating the agency problems associated with loan syndications.