The model presented here shows that extreme uncertainty between an entrepreneur and potential investors can lead to the exclusive use of equity and riskless debt for small business financing. The paper derives these results without any restrictions on the available contract space, the...

Prior to the announcement of a tender offer, the bidding firm is legally allowed to acquire shares in the open market, subject to some limitations. These pre-announcement purchases are known as toeholds. This paper presents a simple model that describes the bidder's optimal toehold acquisition...

This paper presents novel evidence that a geographically based style matters for the design of financial contracts, in addition to more traditional ingredients. We analyze cash flow contingencies included in 1,804 private equity contracts between U.S. venture capitalists (VCs) and U.S. startup...

This paper presents a model of intellectual property contracts. We explain why many intellectual property contracts are contingent on eventual production or success, even without moral hazard on the part of risk-averse sellers. The explanation is based on differences of opinion between buyers...

This paper shows that geographical elements can form an essential component of contract design in addition to more traditional ingredients such as information problems, moral hazard and legal institutions. We analyze cash flow contingencies included in 1,804 contracts between U.S. venture...

This paper investigates the optimal sequencing of debt issues. Our theoretical model suggests that once firms issue debt with one level of seniority, they may have an incentive to alternate seniorities, because of priced absolute priority rule (APR) violations. When we introduce explicit costs...