We analyze the effect of state subsidies on early stage investments. In a two-period investment model with incomplete stage financing contracts, we describe optimal and second-best investment levels. Optimality depends on external effects: given that private early stage financing generates...

This paper studies the factors influencing the capital structure of Belgian corporate finance since 1984. Using three different datasets, aggregate balance sheets, aggregate flows of funds and a large panel of individual firms followed up during 10 years, we are able to give some empirical...

This paper reviews the empirical evidence of the financial sources used by technology-based small firms (TBSFs) in Europe. We shed light on cross-country differences and similarities in the capital structures of TBSFs, in the organization and dynamics of the venture capital industries and...

Fair value depends on an estimate of the both cash flow and risk, which is not an easy task when valuing startup firms. We present a measurement instrument for the future risk of small and risky firms that follows the major propositions in accounting and finance. It differs from other valuation...

Technological innovation is not exclusive to great industrial groups. Sometimes, innovative and dynamic companies emerge in high-tech sectors and constitute a serious threat for some industry giants. However, the high reactivity of these small companies is generally impaired by problems of...

Using Japanese IPOs, this paper empirically examines the roles that bank-affiliated venture capital firms play in mitigating information asymmetries that are detrimental in small business lending. We find that concurrent bank lending and investing via venture capital subsidiaries benefits firms...

Successful and mature corporations can alter their financial structure and optimize their debt asset ratio according to their needs. This is not, however, so easy for companies in the start-up phase, when entrepreneurs have to rely almost ultimately on equity funding. This paper concentrates on...

We consider a model of external financing under ex ante asymmetric information and profit manipulation (non verifability). Contrary to conventional wisdom, the optimal contract is not standard debt, and it is not monotonic. Instead, it resembles a contingent convertible (CoCo) bond. In...