Keywords

firm transparency, IPO flotation costs, asymmetric information hypothesis

Abstract

We demonstrate that firms that are more transparent pay less, in all components of issuance costs, to go public.We employ a sample of 334 previous leveraged buyouts and a characteristic-matched control sample to test the hypothesis that greater firm transparency before the issue decreases the flotation costs of the initial public offering. These flotation costs are divided into initial underpricing, underwriter discount, administrative expenses, and the overallotment option required to take the firm public. Our results provide further evidence of the asymmetric information hypothesis as it applies to initial public offerings.

Original Publication Citation

Firm Transparency and the Costs of Going Public, with James Ang, Journal of Financial Research, Vol. 25, No. 1 (Spring), 2002, 1-18.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2002

Publisher

Journal of Financial Research

Language

English

College

Marriott School of Business

Department

Finance

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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