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Leverage and Pricing in Buyouts: An Empirical Analysis

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  • Ulf Axelson
  • Tim Jenkinson
  • Per Stromberg

Abstract

This paper provides an empirical analysis of the financial structure of large recent buyouts. We collect detailed information of the financings of 153 large buyouts (averaging over $1 billion in enterprise value). We document the manner in which these important transactions are financed. Buyout leverage is cross-sectionally unrelated to the leverage of matched public firms, and is largely driven by other factors than what explains leverage in public firms. In particular, the economy-wide cost of borrowing seems to drive leverage. Prices paid in buyouts are related to the prices observed for matched firms in the public market, but are also strongly affected by the economy-wide cost of borrowing. These results are consistent with a view in which the availability of financing impacts booms and busts in the private equity market.

Suggested Citation

  • Ulf Axelson & Tim Jenkinson & Per Stromberg, 2008. "Leverage and Pricing in Buyouts: An Empirical Analysis," Economics Series Working Papers 2008fe20, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:oxf:wpaper:2008fe20
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Ulf Axelson & Per Strömberg & Michael S. Weisbach, 2009. "Why Are Buyouts Levered? The Financial Structure of Private Equity Funds," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 64(4), pages 1549-1582, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ulf Axelson & Per Strömberg & Michael S. Weisbach, 2009. "Why Are Buyouts Levered? The Financial Structure of Private Equity Funds," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 64(4), pages 1549-1582, August.
    2. Robin Greenwood & Samuel G. Hanson, 2011. "Issuer Quality and the Credit Cycle," NBER Working Papers 17197, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Robin Greenwood & Samuel G. Hanson, 2013. "Issuer Quality and Corporate Bond Returns," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 26(6), pages 1483-1525.
    4. Iioka, Yasutake & Yamada, Yuji, 2023. "The evolution of capital structure and debt governance: Evidence from private equity-backed companies in Japan," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    5. Jiménez, Gabriel & Ongena, Steven & Peydró, José-Luis & Saurina, Jesús, 2014. "Hazardous times for monetary policy: what do twenty-three million bank loans say about the effects of monetary policy on credit risk-taking?," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 82(2), pages 463-505.
    6. Norbäck, Pehr-Johan & Persson, Lars & Tåg, Joacim, 2018. "Does the debt tax shield distort ownership efficiency?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 299-310.
    7. Phillip Leslie & Paul Oyer, 2008. "Managerial Incentives and Value Creation: Evidence from Private Equity," NBER Working Papers 14331, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Sjögren, Anna, 2010. "Graded Children – Evidence of Longrun Consequences of School Grades from a Nationwide Reform," Working Paper Series 839, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    9. Steven N. Kaplan & Per Stromberg, 2009. "Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 23(1), pages 121-146, Winter.
    10. Shai Bernstein & Josh Lerner & Morten Sorensen & Per Strömberg, 2017. "Private Equity and Industry Performance," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 63(4), pages 1198-1213, April.
    11. Eileen Appelbaum & Rosemary Batt, 2012. "A Primer on Private Equity at Work: Management, Employment, and Sustainability," CEPR Reports and Issue Briefs 2012-05, Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR).
    12. Rosemary Batt & Eileen Appelbaum, 2013. "The Impact of Financialization on Management and Employment Outcomes," Upjohn Working Papers 13-191, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
    13. Heinrich, Victor, 2023. "Private Equity Transactions: Value Creation through Operational Engineering – Evidence from Europe," Junior Management Science (JUMS), Junior Management Science e. V., vol. 8(3), pages 634-657.
    14. Alexander Peter Groh & Oliver Gottschalg, 2008. "The Opportunity Cost of Capital of US Buyouts," NBER Working Papers 14148, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    15. Eileen Appelbaum & Rosemary Batt, 2012. "A Primer on Private Equity at Work," Challenge, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(5), pages 5-38.

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