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Abnormal returns of UK privatizations: from underpricing to outperformance

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  • Massimo Florio
  • Katiuscia Manzoni

Abstract

This paper offers a review and discussion of the evidence concerning the underpricing and long-run performance of British PIPOs (Privatization Initial Public Offerings) between 1977 and 1996, i.e. from the first privatization under a Labour Government (British Petroleum), until the last ones by a Conservative Government (Railtrack). More recent years are excluded because the change of government, the introduction of a windfall tax on excess profits of regulated utilities, and changes in the regulatory regime, mark a totally different landscape compared with the previous twenty years. Evidence is found that underpricing was not followed by underperformance, as is usually observed with IPOs, but rather strong outperformance. This trend is decomposed by subgroups within a 55 observations sample, and it is concluded that lax regulation was probably the main driving force of abnormal returns of British PIPOs.

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  • Massimo Florio & Katiuscia Manzoni, 2004. "Abnormal returns of UK privatizations: from underpricing to outperformance," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(2), pages 119-136.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:36:y:2004:i:2:p:119-136
    DOI: 10.1080/0003684042000174029
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bruno Viani, 2011. "Can Governments signal commitment in privatization sales?," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 197(2), pages 87-110, June.
    2. Jupe, Robert, 2012. "The privatization of British Energy: Risk transfer and the state," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 116-129.
    3. Massimo Florio, 2009. "The American Crisis: Travel Notes," QA - Rivista dell'Associazione Rossi-Doria, Associazione Rossi Doria, issue 2, May.
    4. Haykel Hamdi & Duc Khuong Nguyen & Hassan Obeid, 2014. "The short- and long-term performance of privatization initial public offerings in Europe," Working Papers 2014-241, Department of Research, Ipag Business School.
    5. Au Yong, Hue Hwa & Laing, Elaine, 2021. "Stock market reaction to COVID-19: Evidence from U.S. Firms’ International exposure," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    6. Emanuele Bacchiocchi & Massimo Florio, 2008. "Privatisation and aggregate output: testing for macroeconomic transmission channels," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 35(5), pages 525-545, December.
    7. Del Bo, Chiara D. & Ferraris, Matteo & Florio, Massimo, 2017. "Governments in the market for corporate control: Evidence from M&A deals involving state-owned enterprises," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 89-109.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • H42 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Publicly Provided Private Goods
    • L32 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Public Enterprises; Public-Private Enterprises

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