Fund Managers Under Pressure: Rationale and Determinants of Secondary Buyouts
Journal of Financial Economics (JFE), Forthcoming
European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) - Finance Working Paper No. 397/2014
63 Pages Posted: 6 Oct 2013 Last revised: 8 Oct 2014
Date Written: March 3, 2014
Abstract
The fastest growing segment of private equity deals are secondary buyouts - sales from one PE fund to another. Using a comprehensive sample of leveraged buyouts we investigate whether SBOs are value-maximizing, or reflect opportunistic behavior. To proxy for adverse incentives, we develop buy and sell pressure indexes based on how close PE funds are to the end of their investment period or lifetime, their unused capital, reputation, deal activity, and fundraising frequency. We report that funds under pressure engage more in SBOs. Pressured buyers pay higher multiples, use less leverage, and syndicate less suggesting that their motive is to spend equity. Pressured sellers exit at lower multiples and have shorter holding periods. When pressured counterparties meet, deal multiples depend on differential bargaining power. Moreover, funds that invested under pressure underperform.
Keywords: leveraged buyouts, secondary buyouts, private equity, limited investment horizon, agency conflicts in fund management
JEL Classification: G35, G32
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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