Which of the following are restrictive covenants often used to protect the firm’s bond value and bondholder wealth? Check all that apply. Provisions that require firing the firm’s CEO whenever the firm’s bond price decreases by more than 15% Provisions that prohibit reducing the firm’s liquidity ratio below specified levels Provisions that prohibit the borrower from increasing debt ratios above specified levels Provisions that require issuing new debt securities whenever interest rates drop below 5%

1. Provisions that prohibit reducing the firm’s liquidity ratio below specified levels.

2. Provisions that prohibit the borrower from increasing debt ratios above specified levels.

Explanation:

A bond refers to a fixed income instrument that signifies the indebtedness of the borrower to the bond issuer (investor or creditor). Basically, they are loans that are given to government or large corporations.

This simply means that, when a bondholder or creditor purchases a bond, an agreed amount of money is being borrowed to the bond issuer as a loan. As a result of the loan being borrowed, the bond issuer is required to pay an interest with a return of principal at maturity to the bondholder (investor or creditor).

A bond covenant can be defined as a standard and legally binding agreement between an investor or creditor (bondholder) and the issuer of a bond (bond issuer) in order to protect their respective interests. The bond covenant is classified into two (2) categories;

1. Positive or affirmative covenants: which states certain requirements that must be met by the bond issuer.

2. Negative or restrictive covenants: which states certain actions that are forbidden to the bond issuer.

The following are restrictive covenants often used to protect the firm’s bond value and bondholder wealth;

1. Provisions that prohibit reducing the firm’s liquidity ratio below specified levels.

2. Provisions that prohibit the borrower from increasing debt ratios above specified levels.

The restrictive covenants are written directly in the trust indenture or bond deed. Also note, the more the restrictive covenants that exists in a bond, the lower its interest rate because it makes the bond appear safer.

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