Information Asymmetry and the Market Reaction to Equity Carve-Outs

41 Pages Posted: 24 Feb 2003

See all articles by Huijing Fu

Huijing Fu

Texas Christian University

Date Written: November 23, 2002

Abstract

In this paper, I test whether, following an equity carve-out, there is a reduction in information asymmetry among investors of the parent firm, and whether this reduction is value-enhancing. I measure information asymmetry by estimating the probability of information-based trading (PIN) using a sequential trade microstructure model [developed by Easley, Kiefer, and O'Hara (1996)]. Consistent with my hypothesis, the results show a significant decline in the average PIN for the sample firms after equity carve-outs. In addition, I find no significant change in the average PIN for an industry-, size- and exchange-matched control sample of firms. Further, for the carve-out sample, the estimated rates of both informed and uninformed trading increase significantly after carve-outs, and the probability of occurrence of a private information event reduces after carve-outs. I also find that the decline in PIN is more pronounced when the carve-out is intended to refocus the parent's operations and when no segment disclosures are made by the parent prior to the carve-out. Finally, consistent with the information hypothesis, I find that gains around equity carve-out announcements are positively related to the level of pre-carve-out informed trading.

Keywords: equity carve-outs, market microstructure, information asymmetry, informed trading, high frequency data

JEL Classification: C1, D4, D8, G3

Suggested Citation

Fu, Huijing, Information Asymmetry and the Market Reaction to Equity Carve-Outs (November 23, 2002). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=359821 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.359821

Huijing Fu (Contact Author)

Texas Christian University ( email )

Fort Worth, TX 76129
United States
817-257-7148 (Phone)
817-257-7227 (Fax)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
675
Abstract Views
3,223
Rank
71,426
PlumX Metrics