Small-scale private equity: demand versus supply
ISSN: 1030-9616
Article publication date: 6 February 2020
Issue publication date: 20 April 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to bridge the gap between theoretical dissertations on the demand and supply for equity by Australian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the reality of the capital raising markets.
Design/methodology/approach
The mixed-methods approach includes questions integrated into a survey of 26,000 SMEs paired with semi-structured interviews with the CEOs or Chairs of the 15 Australian small-scale private equity (SSPE) firms.
Findings
Contrary to capital structure theory expectations, 46 per cent of Australian SMEs are interested in equity funding, despite a stated ability to acquire additional debt. The authors reveal a mismatch between supply and demand for SSPE with few SMEs able to meet private equity (PE) firms’ stringent investment criteria.
Research limitations/implications
The population of Australian SSPE firms is small and interviewee responses are qualitative and are not easily replicated.
Practical implications
To improve SSPE market liquidity, SMEs must overcome severe information asymmetry to demonstrate their quality and reduce the cost of due diligence for PE firms. One relatively easy step is for SMEs to voluntarily adopt auditable financial controls on SMEs similar to publicly traded firms.
Originality/value
Few studies focus on small firm equity, which is essential to economic growth and innovation. The authors use a large data set of Australian SMEs and unique informationally rich interview data on the population of Australian firms in SSPE, an industry known for its lack of transparency.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Professor Ellie Chapple and Professor Tom Smith for providing guidance and insights on earlier drafts of this study contained in Dr Bruce Dwyer’s doctoral thesis. Bruce also wishes to acknowledge Judi, his wife of some forty years for her unselfish loving support and the real social sacrifices she made to assist him during his doctoral journey.
Citation
Dwyer, B., Duncan, K. and Southam, C. (2020), "Small-scale private equity: demand versus supply", Accounting Research Journal, Vol. 33 No. 2, pp. 363-380. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARJ-05-2019-0096
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited