JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE
Determining Private Equity Fund Risk: An Empirical
Study of Fund Characteristics
Author(s): Jan M. Smolarski, Jose G. Vega
Citation: Jan M. Smolarski, Jose G. Vega, (2013) "Determining Private Equity Fund Risk: An Empirical Study of Fund Characteristics," Journal of Accounting and Finance, Vol. 13, Iss. 1, pp. 35 - 44
Article Type: Research paper
Publisher: North American Business Press
Abstract:
Using a sample of European private equity funds, we investigate the effect of fund type and size on risk
using three two-way ANOVA models and two regression models. The main finding is that large buy-out
funds are the least risky of the fund types whereas medium-sized buy-out funds carry the most risk.
Venture capital funds are not as risky as smaller buy-out funds but riskier than large buy-out funds. Risk
increases as the size of a venture capital fund increases.