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Journal of Finance Vol. 60 No. 4 2005

The Impact of Bank Consolidation on Commercial Borrower Welfare

Jason Karceski1; Steven Ongena2; David C. Smith3,4

1 Tilburg University · 2 University of Florida · 3 University of Virginia · 4 Weifang University

open access

Abstract

We estimate the impact of bank merger announcements on borrowers' stock prices for publicly traded Norwegian firms. Borrowers of target banks lose about 0.8% in equity value, while borrowers of acquiring banks earn positive abnormal returns, suggesting that borrower welfare is influenced by a strategic focus favoring acquiring borrowers. Bank mergers lead to higher relationship exit rates among borrowers of target banks. Larger merger‐induced increases in relationship termination rates are associated with less negative abnormal returns, suggesting that firms with low switching costs switch banks, while similar firms with high switching costs are locked into their current relationship.

DOI
10.1111/j.1540-6261.2005.00787.x
Volume
60
Issue
4
Pages
2043-2082
Language
en
Sources
openalex crossref bibtex:phds-export.bib

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