Abstract:

This paper empirically examines the determinants of increase in the first day return of Japanese initial public offerings (IPOs) during 1997-2001 in TSE, Jasdaq, Mothers, Hercules (former Nasdaq Japan) and regional stock exchange markets. Initial return investigation focuses on pre-market conditions during the filing procedures. The findings show that the highest limit stocks are positively correlated with initial returns. The boom of high-tech IPO firms affects pre-market activities and high initial returns make pre-markets competitive for underwriters. Further analysis confirms that shareholders avoid wealth losses by offering few shares due to high underpricing expectations.

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