Rights Offerings, Subscription Period, Shareholder Takeup and Liquidity

Abstract

We examine the role of shareholder takeup in rights offerings on the subscription period price reaction and liquidity. Our results indicate that takeup information is reflected in price adjustments over the subscription period and that quality-related information disclosed on the rights announcement date further impacts upon prices in this period. Higher shareholder takeup improves liquidity. We do find some evidence of inefficiencies in the adjustment process over the subscription period which, in part, is consistent with a model where markets are characterized by overconfident investors and which also articulates with takeup information arriving in the market.

Keywords: Rights offerings, takeup, subscription period, underwriting, liquidity, Australia

JEL Classification: G14, G32