← Search

Review of Finance Vol. 16 No. 1 2012

The Dynamics of Venture Capital Contracts

Carsten Bienz1; Julia Hirsch2

1 1Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) · 2 2Iberoamerican University Mexico City

open access

Abstract

Using a detailed German data set on venture capital contracts, the authors document that contracts between venture capitalists (VC) and their portfolio firms specify more complete conditions for future financing for firms that do have no suitable outside financing option and therefore lower ex post bargaining power. The authors’ result is consistent with theories of holdup, where complete contracts protect the entrepreneur from expropriation by the financier. Moreover, there is evidence of learning by VCs. Other possible explanations for observed contracts, such as multitasking or coordination costs, instead have little explanation power.

DOI
10.1093/rof/rfr003
Volume
16
Issue
1
Pages
157-195
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

Cite