Global Growth from an Investor’s Point of View - Initial Public Offerings in the Fashion and Accessories Industry

Abstract

In this paper we analyze the long-run stock price performance of 207 initial public offerings in the fashion and leather accessories industry between 1990 and 2007. We find a highly significant underperformance of IPO stocks compared to corresponding benchmark indices. Cross-sectional regression analysis reveals that underperformance is mainly driven by offerings of smaller, less mature companies that are not taken public by a prestigious underwriter. Nevertheless, we also find that fashion IPO firms experience a considerable reduction in their systematic risk exposure due to the realization of real options which helps to explain at least part of their seemingly poor stock price performance.JEL Classifications: D53, G32, L67