We examine the IPOs of and acquisitions made by all-cash firms. This unique sample of firms provides a perspective unencumbered by much of the confounding information typically surrounding these corporate events. We find IPO gross spreads of 7% -- similar to the spreads in more complex IPO...

U.S. underwriting fees, or spreads, have somewhat inexplicably clustered around 7% for years, a phenomenon that some have suggested evidences implicit collusion. The goal of Title I the JOBS Act of 2012 was to make going public easier for smaller firms; certain provisions specifically should...