Corporate Acquisitions and Bank Relationships
Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper 2021-082/IV
68 Pages Posted: 20 Sep 2021 Last revised: 25 Sep 2021
Date Written: September 16, 2021
Abstract
Using a large dataset of firm-bank and ownership information for 23 European countries over 2008-2015, we study the dynamics of bank relationships after corporate acquisitions and the effects of changing banks on firm performance. Foreign acquirers do not rely on internal capital markets but keep targets' domestic banks. With more domestic banks, firms increase fixed capital and trade credit. In contrast, domestic acquirers remove domestic but add foreign banks. The latter mainly help reduce the cost of financing. We further explore firm and bank heterogeneity and confirm cost of financing and information asymmetry as plausible reasons to change bank.
Keywords: Acquisitions, Firm-bank relationships, Firm financing, Operating performance
JEL Classification: G34, D82, E51, F36, G21
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation