The Effect of Short Sales Constraints on SEO Pricing

Publication Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

7-2006

Abstract

This article examines the influence of SEC’s Rule 105, Regulation M on the information environment surrounding the offer day of a seasoned equity offering (SEO). The results of this study show that the constraints on short sales imposed by the Rule inhibit informed trading for offers with private adverse information and without listings on the options market. These constraints also contribute to a substantial increase in information asymmetry and market makers’ relatively more sensitive response to seller-initiated trading. After controlling for other potential determinants of SEO discounts, such as price pressure and transaction cost savings, the results show that the increase in information asymmetry just before an offer day has a significant impact on the value discount of an SEO. The Rule’s restrictions on informed trading appear to cause overpricing of stocks for which traders have access to private adverse information, which increases the pressure to sell on the offer day.

Keywords

short sales constraint, information asymmetry, seasoned equity offering (SEO), SEC Rule 105.

Discipline

Finance and Financial Management | Portfolio and Security Analysis

Research Areas

Finance

Publication

China International Conference in Finance, Xi’an, China, July 2006

City or Country

Xi'an, China

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