RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Impact of Board Structure on IPO Underpricing JF The Journal of Private Equity FD Institutional Investor Journals SP 15 OP 21 DO 10.3905/jpe.2016.19.2.015 VO 19 IS 2 A1 Steven D. Dolvin A1 Jill E. Kirby YR 2016 UL https://pm-research.com/content/19/2/15.abstract AB Prior research has examined the impact of board structure on firm performance and found that characteristics such as board size affect both operating and stock price performance. Existing research has concentrated primarily on performance in periods well removed from a firm’s initial public offering (IPO), and relatively little research has examined the impact of board structure on the stock price performance of IPOs, particularly with regard to characteristics other than board size. This study fills this gap, finding that the key board characteristic is the percentage external directors on the board. The authors find that the greater the percentage of external board members, the lower the firm’s underpricing or initial return. This result is particularly pronounced for firms with venture capital backing, suggesting that VCs provide certification value, although primarily when they have a deep involvement in the issuing firm.TOPICS: Private equity, analysis of individual factors/risk premia, performance measurement, statistical methods