Wednesday, May 23, 2012

On the Down Low at the Roadshow

Facebook $FB price chart for Monday, May 21, 2012
An analyst had a quick word
With investors his bankers preferred:
"We've cut our projections
For those with connections,
But won't tell the rest of the herd."

The fallout from the Facebook IPO continues. On Tuesday a spotlight was shown on the practice of IPO underwriters' not disclosing their analysts' estimates of companies' earnings, except to a small group of large institutional clients. Already a troubling practice, these quiet revelations appeared to skirt the letter of the law in the Facebook case. Analysts for Morgan Stanley and the other underwriters all made substantial cuts in their Facebook earnings forecasts during the pre-IPO roadshow, evidently based on information quietly provided by the still-private company. Joining Goldman Sachs in contempt for the retail "muppets" clamoring for $FB shares, the Morgans - J.P. and Stanley - have still not disclosed their estimates, as indeed they may not until 40 days after the IPO date. Reuters finance blogger Felix Salmon gives a full explanation of the issues and facts of the case, in a post that is worth the time of those who would like to gain insight into the world of stock underwriting.

1 comment:

  1. The early speculation was that when Facebook went public a month ago today, it would storm out of the IPO chute and bring in a new wave of tech stock offerings. Some even compared it to Google's initial public offering in 2004. Following Facebook's disastrous IPO, numerous firms quickly abandoned their plans to go public. 29 firms have canceled their ambitions to go public this year. According to Renaissance Capital, this is on par with this point in 2011, but up 53% from this time in 2010. We have gacha life download link here.

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