Determinants of Asset Value Adjustments: The Case of Germany’s Cooperative Banks

Abstract

Abstract This paper studies the driving forces behind asset value adjustments in the German cooperative banking sector. Firm-specific as well as macroeconomic factors are considered. We estimate a Vector Error Correction Model for the post-unification period from 1992 to 2022. The main factor behind the improvement in value adjustments is the declining long-term interest rate. Besides these macroeconomic factors, the average bank size and the loans-to-deposits ratio are important. The trend towards larger banks has counteracted the improvement as well as the more loan-oriented business strategy of recent years. JEL classification numbers: C580, C58, G21, P13, P34. Keywords: Cooperative Banks, Asset Value Adjustments, Mergers, Vector Error Correction Model.