Expected and realised returns for Singaporean IPOs: Initial and long-run analysis

Abstract

We analyse initial and long-run returns for all Singapore IPOs made between 1 July 1973 and 31 December 1992. Initial returns are found to be around 30 percent. However, after rationing and application costs are taken into account initial returns are insignificantly different from the risk-free rate of return, a result consistent with the predictions of the model of Rock (1986). Initial returns are positively related to the level of oversubscription and retained ownership, although the economic significance of the latter is weak. In contrast to many other international studies of IPOs, the long-run average returns for Singaporean IPOs are insignificantly different from an efficient market expectation. While long-run returns for individual companies show considerable variation, these returns are not predictable using information available at the IPO date. We further investigate the large oversubscription rates which are a peculiar feature of the Singapore IPO market, and argue that they are consistent with demand expansion by informed investors. Our estimates of the minimum price that a rational issuer would set in an IPO are below the actual issue price for all issues, given what we regard as reasonable limits on uninformed demand.