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Journal of Corporate Finance Vol. 72 2022

May the force be with you: Investor power and company valuations

Thomas Hellmann1; Veikko Thiele2

1 University of Oxford · 2 Queen's University

Abstract

This paper re-examines the role of investor power in a model of staged equity financing. It shows how the usual effect where market power reduces valuations can be reversed in later rounds. Once they become insiders, powerful investors may use their market power to increase, not decrease valuations. The critical determinant is whether the insider invests above or below the pro-rata threshold. Even though powerful investors initially lower valuations, companies prefer to bring them inside, to leverage their power in later financing rounds. The paper generates novel predictions about valuations and investor returns.

DOI
10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2022.102163
Volume
72
Pages
102163
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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