Building Relationships Early: Banks in Venture Capital / Thomas Hellman, Laura Lindsey, Manju Puri.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hellman, Thomas.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Lindsey, Laura.

Puri, Manju.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w10535.

NBER working paper series no. w10535

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Other Title:

Building Relationships Early

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2004.

Summary:

The importance of an investor's organizational structure is increasingly recognized in modern finance. This paper examines the role of banks in the US venture capital market. Theory suggests that unlike independent venture capital firms, banks can seek complementarities between their venture capital and lending activities. Our empirical analysis suggests that banks use their venture capital investments to build relationships for their lending activities. Banks target their venture investments to companies that are more likely to subsequently raise loans, and having made an investment as a venture capitalist increases a bank's likelihood of providing a loan. Companies may benefit from these relationships through more favorable loan pricing. The analysis suggests that banks are strategic investors in the venture capital market with investment patterns distinct from independent venture capitalists. It also provides a cautionary note for relying on banks for the development of a venture capital industry.

Notes:

Print version record

June 2004.