Abstract
We develop an explanation for IPO underpricing in which the issuer's demand for ownership dispersion creates an incentive to underprice. Promoting oversubscription allows broad initial ownership, which in turn increases secondary-market liquidity. Increased liquidity reduces the required return to investors. Broad initial ownership, however, requires an increase in investor-borne information costs. These information costs are offset through initial underpricing. Empirical results are consistent with initial underpricing reflecting the level of ownership dispersion.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 291-310 |
Number of pages | 20 |
Journal | Journal of Financial Economics |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1996 |
Keywords
- Information cost
- Initial public offerings
- Ownership dispersion
- Underpricing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Accounting
- Finance
- Economics and Econometrics
- Strategy and Management