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Conglomerate entrenchment under optimal financial contracting

Author

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  • Faure-Grimaud, Antoine
  • Inderst, Roman
Abstract
We provide a formal analysis of the notion that conglomerates are more ‘entrenched’ as they have ‘deeper pockets’. Using the financial contracting model of Bolton and Scharfstein (1990), we can isolate two effects that confirm this conjecture: the pooling of cash flows, which allows to smooth out repayments, and the ability to obtain better credit terms. For less profitable business segments, the internal capital market operated in a conglomerate may, however, work in the opposite direction, increasing the sensitivity of operations to own cash flows and increasing the likelihood of exit.

Suggested Citation

  • Faure-Grimaud, Antoine & Inderst, Roman, 2004. "Conglomerate entrenchment under optimal financial contracting," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 24788, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:24788
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Mikel Bedayo, 2016. "Creating associations to substitute banks’direct credit. Evidence from Belgium," Working Paper Research 315, National Bank of Belgium.
    3. Akbel, Basak & Schnitzer, Monika, 2011. "Creditor rights and debt allocation within multinationals," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(6), pages 1367-1379, June.
    4. Viswanathan Nagarajan & Pitabas Mohanty & Apalak Khatua, 2023. "Financing effects of corporate diversification: A review," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(7), pages 2555-2585, October.
    5. Marc Martos-Vila & Matthew Rhodes-Kropf & Jarrad Harford, 2013. "Financial vs. Strategic Buyers," NBER Working Papers 19378, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Macchiavello, Rocco, 2007. "Financial Constraints and the Costs and Benefits of Vertical Integration," CEPR Discussion Papers 6104, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    7. Iskenderoglu, Cansu, 2023. "Product market competition and the value of diversification," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PA).
    8. Mikel Bedayo, 2017. "Creating associations as a substitute for direct bank credit. Evidence from Belgium," Working Papers 1704, Banco de España.
    9. Khanna, Tarun & Yafeh, Yishay, 2005. "Business Groups in Emerging Markets: Paragons or Parasites?," CEI Working Paper Series 2005-1, Center for Economic Institutions, Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University.
    10. Daniel Dejuan-Bitria & Corinna Ghirelli, 2021. "Economic policy uncertainty and investment in Spain," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 12(3), pages 351-388, September.
    11. Marc Rustige & Michael H. Grote, 2009. "Der Einfluss von Diversifikationsstrategien auf den Aktienkurs deutscher Unternehmen," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 61(5), pages 470-498, August.
    12. Gatzer, Sebastian & Hoang, Daniel & Ruckes, Martin, 2014. "Internal capital markets and diversified firms: Theory and practice," Working Paper Series in Economics 64, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Department of Economics and Management.
    13. Daniel Dejuán & Corinna Ghirelli, 2018. "Policy uncertainty and investment in Spain," Working Papers 1848, Banco de España.
    14. Peter J. Simmons & Anna Maria C. Menichini, 2022. "Efficient audits by pooling independent projects: Separation vs. conglomeration," Discussion Papers 22/06, Department of Economics, University of York.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    conglomerate entrenchment; financial constraints; predation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • L22 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Organization and Market Structure

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