The Value of Intra-Group Lending

Abstract

I estimate a dynamic investment model for business groups in which the pyramidal ownership structure generates an agency problem between controlling and minority shareholders. In the model, the controlling shareholder can transfer resources across group firms using intra-group loans, allowing risk sharing and reducing the need for external financing. In a sample of Chilean business groups, I perform counterfactual experiments in which I compare group-affiliated firms with equivalent non-group firms. I find that for the average business group the incremental value of the internal capital market represents roughly 1.5-1.7% of the firm equity value. Although the controlling shareholder gets a larger portion of the value gains, minority shareholders also benefit from these internal transactions.