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Discount Rate Risk in Private Equity: Evidence from Secondary Market Transactions

Author

Listed:
  • Boyer, Brian

    (Brigham Young U)

  • Nadauld, Taylor D.

    (Brigham Young U)

  • Vorkink, Keith P.

    (Brigham Young U)

  • Weisbach, Michael S.

    (Ohio State U and ECGI)

Abstract

Standard measures of PE performance based on cash flows overlook discount rate risk. An index constructed from prices paid in secondary market transactions indicates that PE discount rates vary considerably. While the standard alpha for our index is zero, measures of performance based on cash flow data for funds in our index are large and positive. To illustrate that results are not driven by idiosyncrasies of PE secondary markets, we obtain similar results using cash flows and returns of synthetic funds that invest in small cap stocks. Ignoring variation in PE discount rates can lead to a misallocation of capital.

Suggested Citation

  • Boyer, Brian & Nadauld, Taylor D. & Vorkink, Keith P. & Weisbach, Michael S., 2021. "Discount Rate Risk in Private Equity: Evidence from Secondary Market Transactions," Working Paper Series 2021-04, Ohio State University, Charles A. Dice Center for Research in Financial Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecl:ohidic:2021-04
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage

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