The Benefits of Concurrent Bank Lending and Investing via Bank-affiliated Venture Capital

Abstract

Using Japanese IPOs, this paper empirically examines the roles that bank-affiliated venture capital firms play in mitigating information asymmetries that are detrimental in small business lending. We find that concurrent bank lending and investing via venture capital subsidiaries benefits firms by increasing credit availability, particularly by increasing the availability of long-term loans, but not by lowering interest rates. We also find that banks that jointly deliver lending and investment via VC subsidiaries build close ties with firms. These results suggest that strong bank-firm relationships, which benefit firms by availability of credit, can be built through scope of relationships.