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The oversight role of regulators: evidence from SEC comment letters in the IPO process

Author

Listed:
  • Bing Li

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Zhenbin Liu

    (Hong Kong Baptist University)

Abstract

This study investigates how regulatory oversight affects the price formation of initial public offerings (IPOs). We provide evidence on the oversight role of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by examining the effects of comment letters issued by the SEC in the process through which companies are initially listed. We find that IPO issuers reduce their offer price if they receive comment letters. The reduction in price from the IPO filing date to the final issue date is greater when the IPO firm has more correspondence with the SEC. The pricing impact of SEC comment letters is more pronounced for IPO issuers with greater hyping incentives. Moreover, we find that IPO firms that receive more comment letters have similar levels of underpricing and outperform over the long run after the issue date, compared with IPOs with fewer comment letters.

Suggested Citation

  • Bing Li & Zhenbin Liu, 2017. "The oversight role of regulators: evidence from SEC comment letters in the IPO process," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 1229-1260, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reaccs:v:22:y:2017:i:3:d:10.1007_s11142-017-9406-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11142-017-9406-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Huo, Di & Huang, Wei & Huang, Yuting & Ke, Youlin & Shen, Zhe, 2024. "Stock exchange comment letters and MD&A tone management," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PB).
    2. Longhao Xu & Zhijian James Huang & Fenghua Wen, 2022. "Comment letters and stock price synchronicity: evidence from China," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 59(4), pages 1387-1421, November.
    3. Michael Dambra & Bryce Schonberger & Charles Wasley, 2024. "Creating visibility: voluntary disclosure by private firms pursuing an initial public offering," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 29(3), pages 2468-2517, September.
    4. Wanyi Chen & Ning Hu & Xiangfang Zhao, 2022. "Information asymmetry, regulatory inquiry, and company mergers and acquisitions: evidence from Shenzhen Stock Exchange comment letters," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(2), pages 2497-2542, June.
    5. Lu, Jing & Qiu, Yuhang, 2023. "Does non-punitive regulation diminish stock price crash risk?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    6. Samdani, Taufique, 2024. "Disclosure rules, controlling shareholders, and trading activity in the new issues market," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    7. Bret A. Johnson & Ling Lei Lisic & Joon Seok Moon & Mengmeng Wang, 2023. "SEC comment letters on form S-4 and M&A accounting quality," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 28(2), pages 862-909, June.
    8. Salim Chahine & Gonul Colak & Iftekhar Hasan & Mohamad Mazboudi, 2020. "Investor relations and IPO performance," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 474-512, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    SEC comment letters; Disclosure; Information asymmetry; Hyping; Price formation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting
    • K22 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Business and Securities Law
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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