Optimal Financing for R&D-Intensive Firms

58 Pages Posted: 11 Sep 2017 Last revised: 29 Aug 2023

See all articles by Richard T. Thakor

Richard T. Thakor

University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Laboratory for Financial Engineering

Andrew W. Lo

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Laboratory for Financial Engineering

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: August 28, 2023

Abstract

We develop a theory of optimal financing for R&D-intensive firms. With only market financing, the firm relies exclusively on equity financing and carries excess cash, but underinvests in R&D. We use mechanism design to examine how intermediated financing can attentuate this underinvestment. The mechanism combines equity with put options such that investors insure firms against R&D failure and firms insure investors against high R&D payoffs not being realized.

Keywords: R&D Investments, Innovation, Capital Structure, Cash Holdings, Mechanism Design

JEL Classification: D82, D83, G31, G32, G34, O31, O32

Suggested Citation

Thakor, Richard T. and Lo, Andrew W., Optimal Financing for R&D-Intensive Firms (August 28, 2023). MIT Sloan Research Paper No. 5240-17, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3034428 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3034428

Richard T. Thakor (Contact Author)

University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management ( email )

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Minneapolis, MN 55455
United States

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Laboratory for Financial Engineering ( email )

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Cambridge, MA 02142
United States

Andrew W. Lo

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Laboratory for Financial Engineering ( email )

100 Main Street
E62-618
Cambridge, MA 02142
United States
617-253-0920 (Phone)
781 891-9783 (Fax)

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