A Theory of Liquidity in Private Equity

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Maurin, Vincent; Robinson, David T.; Stromberg, Per
• 署名单位: Stockholm School of Economics; Swedish House of Finance; Duke University; National Bureau of Economic Research; Centre for Economic Policy Research - UK; European Corporate Governance Institute
• 刊物名称: MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0025-1909
• DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2022.4612
• 发表日期: 2023
• 页码: 5740-5771
• 关键词: private equity; Liquidity premium; secondary market

摘要

We develop a model of private equity capturing two fundamental features of this market: the fund structure and illiquidity. A fund structure with sequential capital calls arises as an optimal solution to fund managers' (GPs) moral hazard problem but exposes investors (LPs) to illiquidity risk. Funds with more illiquidity-tolerant LPs realize higher returns, leading to different expected returns across both funds and LPs in equilibrium. GPs may inefficiently accelerate drawdowns to avoid default by LPs on capital commitments. With a secondary market for LP claims, differences in fund returns are attenuated but differences in LP returns remain. The model can rationalize several empirical findings on primary and secondary private equity markets.