Restrictive covenants


Restrictive covenants

Provisions that place constraints on the operations of borrowers, such as restrictions on working capital, fixed assets, future borrowing, and payment of dividends.

Restrictive Covenant

A bond covenant that forbids the issuer from taking certain actions. For example, a restrictive covenant may prevent an issuer from issuing more debt until the bond matures. More commonly, a restrictive covenant limits the dividends an issuer may pay to shareholders so as to reduce the risk to the bond. It contrasts with a positive covenant, which requires the issuer to take certain enumerated actions. It is also called a negative covenant.