We consider a model of external financing in which entrepreneurs are privately informed about the quality of their projects and seek funds from competitive financiers. The literature restricts attention to monotonic or ‘manipulation proof' securities and finds that straight debt is the unique...

We consider a model of external financing in which privately informed entrepreneurs seek funds from competitive financiers. The literature restricts attention to monotonic securities and finds that straight debt is the uniquely optimal. Monotonicity is justified by the argument that it would...