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DIFFERENTIAL INFORMATION AND THE UNDERPRICING OF INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS: AUSTRALIAN EVIDENCE
Author(s) -
How Janice C.Y.,
Izan H.Y.,
Monroe Gary S.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
accounting and finance
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.645
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1467-629X
pISSN - 0810-5391
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-629x.1995.tb00278.x
Subject(s) - prospectus , initial public offering , underwriting , reputation , business , quality (philosophy) , differential (mechanical device) , accounting , information quality , actuarial science , finance , information system , political science , philosophy , engineering , epistemology , law , aerospace engineering
This paper provides evidence on underpricing in Australia using 340 industrial initial public offerings over the period 1980 to 1990. It aims to explain why underpricing is consistent with rational behaviour by focusing on differential information across IPO firms. We measure differential information along two dimensions, the quality and the quantity of information. We propose that the quality of information is reflected in the reputation of independent advisers to the preparation of the issuing firm's prospectus. Three such independent external advisers are examined: the investigating accountant, the underwriter, and the expert. The results provide strong support for the reputation effect of the underwriter on underpricing. Although there is evidence showing a negative relation between underpricing and the reputation of the investigating accountant and the expert, it is not significant. Our results also support the differential quantity of information hypothesis. Firms with more information available are, on average, less underpriced.