Anneleen Michiels

Although past research suggests that family firms are less likely to use private equity (PE) financing, further research is required to identify the underlying reasons for such behaviour. Using the theory of planned behaviour and based on the analysis of data collected from 254 family firms, we identify the factors that explain a family firm’s intentions to use PE. Family owners are more likely to plan to use PE when they have a favourable attitude toward PE, their intended succession strategy involves relinquishing control by selling the business sometime in the future, and they have a good understanding of PE.