Returns to private equity: idiosyncratic risk does matter!

Arbeitspapier

Owners of private companies often invest a substantial share of their net worth in one company, which exposes them to idiosyncratic risk. For US companies we investigate whether owners require compensation for lack of diversification in the form of higher returns to equity. Exposure to idiosyncratic risk is measured as the share of the owner’s net worth invested in the company. Equity returns are measured as the earnings rate and as capital gains. For both returns measures we find a positive and significant influence of exposure to idiosyncratic risk. This paper improves our understanding of returns to private equity.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: ZEW Discussion Papers ; No. 04-29 [rev.3]

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill ; Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions ; Entrepreneurship
• Subject: returns to private equity ; exposure to idiosyncratic risk ; private companies ; Klein- und Mittelunternehmen ; Unternehmer ; Investition ; Portfolio-Management ; Rentabilität ; Ökonomischer Anreiz ; Schätzung ; USA

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Müller, Elisabeth
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung (ZEW)
• (where): Mannheim
• (when): 2009

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/29639
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET