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Access to Capital and the IPO Decision: An Analysis of US Private Firms

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Abstract

We analyze firms' IPO decisions using detailed financial data on US private firms. We find that firms with higher external capital needs are more likely to go public. Following the IPO, firms increase their investment and debt issuance, resulting in leverage ratios close to their pre-IPO levels. Finally, newly public firms borrow from an expanded pool of lenders at improved terms, with a decrease in the within-firm dispersion in banks' private risk assessments. Our evidence is consistent with firms going public to improve their access to capital, which is facilitated by a reduction in asymmetric information.

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  • Andres Almazan & Nathan Swem & Sheridan Titman & Gregory Weitzner, 2025. "Access to Capital and the IPO Decision: An Analysis of US Private Firms," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2025-102, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedgfe:2025-102
    DOI: 10.17016/FEDS.2025.102
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    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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