Date of Conferral

2015

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Management

Advisor

Mohammad Sharifzadeh

Abstract

In recent years, the initial public offerings (IPOs) on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) witnessed some level of undersubscriptions. The purpose of this research was to investigate the extent to which valuation, pricing, and performance of prior IPOs listed on the GSE contributed to this state of undersubscriptions. The research was informed by the valuation and pricing framework of Roosenboom. The research questions addressed whether IPOs on the GSE were under/overpriced and whether the projected and pre-issue financials were free from forecasting errors and earnings management. A cross-sectional, explanatory research design was employed to examine a dataset of 30 sampled IPOs. The dataset, obtained from IPO prospectuses, trading data, and financial statements, was analyzed using both logistic and multiple regressions. IPO valuation methods, first-day returns (R(1st day)), absolute forecast errors (AFE), and discretionary current accruals (DCA) served as dependent variables and firm characteristics of size, age, profitability, dividends, price-to-value (P/V) ratios, owner-manager, and auditors' reputation served as independent variables. Results revealed that firm characteristics were not significant predictors of the choice of IPO valuation methods, IPOs were underpriced and their R(1st day) were significantly predicted by P/V ratios, the financial projections were over forecasted and their AFE were not predicted by the independent variables, and the pre-IPO financials experienced earnings management and their DCA were significantly explained by the owner-manager variable. This research contributes to positive social change by assisting regulators, investment bankers, corporations, and institutional investors in improving their respective roles in the valuation and pricing of IPOs on the GSE, thus reducing the observed IPO undersubscriptions in the stock market.

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