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Litigation and information effects on private sales of securities

Author

Listed:
  • Bayar, Onur
  • Floros, Ioannis V.
  • Liu, Yini
  • Mao, Juan

Abstract

We analyze PIPE (Private Investments in Public Equity) transactions in which the issuer experienced class action lawsuits. We explain the associated information effects measured by the announcement wealth effects and the discounts. Using a comprehensive, hand-gathered dataset, we show that the more severely litigated PIPEs are associated with higher announcement wealth effects and higher levels of discounts. We find that the issuer's voluntary disclosure positively influences PIPE information effects particularly when coupled with auditor changes. We report that certain mitigation actions affect the pricing of PIPEs along with their associated wealth effects while facing ongoing litigation. We posit that confidentiality in privately negotiated securities is the key in litigated transactions as issuers efficiently share the operational details of mitigation efforts. PIPE transactions are not necessarily costlier funding venues even when securities class action lawsuits are ongoing compared to the PIPE transactions that did not experience any prior litigation action.

Suggested Citation

  • Bayar, Onur & Floros, Ioannis V. & Liu, Yini & Mao, Juan, 2024. "Litigation and information effects on private sales of securities," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:88:y:2024:i:c:s0929119924000907
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2024.102628
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Law and finance; Information effects; Private Investments in Public Equity (PIPEs); Private placements; Mitigation action;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • K41 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Litigation Process
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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