The Rise of Accelerated Seasoned Equity Underwritings

Arbeitspapier

Seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) executed through accelerated underwritings have increased global market share recently, raising over $850 billion since 1998, and now account for over half (two-thirds) of the value of U.S. (European) SEOs. We examine 31,242 global SEOs, executed during 1991-2004, which raise over $2.9 trillion for firms and selling shareholders. Compared to fully marketed deals, accelerated offerings occur more rapidly, raise more money, and require fewer underwriters. Importantly, accelerated deals reduce total issuance cost by about 250 basis points. Accelerated deals sell equal fractions of primary and secondary shares, whereas in traditional SEOs primary shares dominate. Announcement period returns are comparable for traditional and accelerated offerings, while secondary and mixed offerings trigger more negative market responses than do primary offerings. We conclude that this rapid, worldwide shift towards accelerated underwriting creates a spot market for SEOs, and represents the long-predicted shift towards an auction model for seasoned equity sales.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Nota di Lavoro ; No. 5.2007

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; International Financial Markets ; Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage; Ratings and Ratings Agencies
• Subject: Equity Offerings ; Underwriting ; Investment Banking ; Kapitalerhöhung ; Wertpapieremission ; Investmentbank ; USA

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Megginson, William L. ; Bortolotti, Bernardo ; Smart, Scott B.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM)
• (where): Milano
• (when): 2007

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/74263
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET