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IPO underpricing in Italy

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  • L. Cassia
  • G. Giudici
  • S. Paleari
  • R. Redondi

Abstract

This article analyses the first-day return of 182 IPOs listed on the Italian Stock Exchange from 1985 to 2001. It finds a significantly mean positive underpricing (21.87%). Contrary to the evidence detected in the USA by Loughran and Ritter and Ljungqvist and Wilhelm, it highlights that on the main board of the Italian Exchange IPO underpricing decreased in the late 1990s. It claims that such a pattern can be accounted for by two determinants: (i) the evolution of pricing strategies, from fixed-price IPOs to bookbuilding, (ii) the segmentation of the Italian Exchange with the birth of a new board for high-growth and technology firms (Nuovo Mercato). It shows that IPOs are intentionally underpriced: both public and private information available at the IPO is only partially incorporated in pricing the shares. The results suggest that negative feedback learned during the preselling is more fully incorporated into the offer price than positive information. Finally, it shows that price revisions are partially predictable on the basis of public information at the time of the offering.

Suggested Citation

  • L. Cassia & G. Giudici & S. Paleari & R. Redondi, 2004. "IPO underpricing in Italy," Applied Financial Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(3), pages 179-194.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:apfiec:v:14:y:2004:i:3:p:179-194
    DOI: 10.1080/0960310042000187333
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    Cited by:

    1. Antonio Acconcia & Alfredo Del Monte & Luca Pennacchio & Germana Scepi, 2011. "IPO Underpricing and the Location of Firms," CSEF Working Papers 295, Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF), University of Naples, Italy, revised 04 Feb 2021.
    2. Robert Brooks & Tim Fry & William Dimovski & Sandra Mihajilo, 2009. "A duration analysis of the time from prospectus to listing for Australian initial public offerings," Applied Financial Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(3), pages 183-190.
    3. Pennacchio, Luca & Del Monte, Alfredo & Acconcia, Antonio, 2010. "Underpricing and distance: an empirical analysis," MPRA Paper 20273, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Riccardo Ferretti & Antonio Meles, 2010. "Underpricing, wealth loss for pre-existing shareholders and the cost of going public: the role of private equity backing in Italian IPOs," Venture Capital, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(1), pages 23-47, September.
    5. Anna Vong, 2006. "Rate of subscription and after-market volatility in Hong Kong IPOs," Applied Financial Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(16), pages 1217-1224.
    6. Alqahtani, Faisal & Boulanouar, Zakaria, 2017. "Sharia compliance status & investor demand for IPOs: Evidence from Saudi Arabia," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 46(PB), pages 258-268.
    7. Waqas Mehmood & Rasidah Mohd-Rashid & Yasir Abdullah & Ataul Karim Patwary & Attia Aman-Ullah, 2023. "Inclusive mapping of initial public offerings: a bibliometric and literature review study," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 655-700, February.
    8. Beat Reber & Caroline Fong, 2006. "Explaining mispricing of initial public offerings in Singapore," Applied Financial Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(18), pages 1339-1353.
    9. Vong, Anna P.I. & Trigueiros, Duarte, 2010. "The short-run price performance of initial public offerings in Hong Kong: New evidence," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 253-261.
    10. Anna Vong & N. Zhao, 2008. "An examination of IPO underpricing in the growth enterprise market of Hong Kong," Applied Financial Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(19), pages 1539-1547.
    11. Baschieri, Giulia & Carosi, Andrea & Mengoli, Stefano, 2015. "Local IPOs, local delistings, and the firm location premium," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 67-83.
    12. Yacine Belghitar & Rob Dixon, 2012. "Do venture capitalists reduce underpricing and underperformance of IPOs?," Applied Financial Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(1), pages 33-44, January.
    13. Giulia Baschieri & Andrea Carosi & Stefano Mengoli, 2023. "Local IPO waves, local shocks, and the going public decision," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(3), pages 2565-2589, July.
    14. Gori, Leonella & Teti, Emanuele & Loi, Andrea & Dallocchio, Maurizio, 2020. "Seasonal darkness and IPO," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 494-508.
    15. Riccardo Ferretti & Antonio Meles, 2010. "Underpricing, wealth loss for pre-existing shareholders and the cost of going public: the role of private equity backing in Italian IPOs," Venture Capital, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(1), pages 23-47, September.
    16. Boreiko, Dmitri & Lombardo, Stefano, 2011. "Italian IPOs: Allocations and claw back clauses," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 127-143, February.

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