hero working papers

Active Financial Intermediation: Evidence on the Role of Organizational

Number: 266
Year: 2004
Author(s): Laura Bottazzi (Bocconi University, IGIER and CEPR),
Marco Da Rin (Turin University, ECGI and IGIER) and Thomas Hellmann (University of British Columbia)

Abstract

Financial intermediaries can choose the extent to which they want to be active
investors, providing valuable services like advice, support and corporate governance.
We examine the determinants of the decision to become an active financial
intermediary using a hand-collected dataset on European venture capital deals. We
find organizational specialization to be a key driver. Venture firms which are
independent and focused on venture capital alone get more involved with their
companies. The human capital of venture partners is another key driver of active
financial intermediation. Venture firms whose partners' have prior business
experience or a scientific education provide more support and governance. These
results have implications for prevailing views of financial intermediation, which largely
abstract from issues of specialization and human capital.

Keywords: Venture Capital, Corporate Governance, Human Capital, Organizations
JEL codes: G24, G20, G21, L20