Initial public offerings (IPOs), or new listings of companies on stock exchanges, are among the most important form of finance and generate considerable attention and excitement. They are used to raise capital or to monetize investments by the early generation of venture capital and other private investors. They are increasingly international in scope and reach, especially with non-American firms offering on American stock exchanges. This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of why companies list on stock exchanges, how IPOs are regulated, initially valued, and their performance in the short and long run. The first part examines the economics of IPOs, and offers statistics and regulatory insights from the United States and other countries around the world. The volume then covers mergers versus IPOs, as well as reverse mergers and special purpose acquisition companies. Part III analyzes institutional ties in IPOs, including analysts, investment banks, auditors, and venture capitalists. The fourth section provides international perspectives on IPOs from a number of countries around the world. Part V discusses alternatives to IPOs, including private marketplaces, and crowdfunding. Reflecting the range of disciplines that analyze IPOs, the contributors come from the fields of finance, international business and management, economics, and law. The chapters cover the latest information on a range of fundamental questions that are of interest to academics, practitioners, and policymakers alike.

The Oxford Handbook of Hedge Funds provides a comprehensive overview of the hedge fund industry from a global perspective, bringing together insights from theoretical and applied research. The book seeks to both introduce the industry and what it does to scholars and practitioners new to the area, and to provide more advanced insights to those with extensive expertise in the area. The handbook explains the main context in which hedge funds operate, how the raise capital, and their structure and governance. It evaluates the main factors that have affected the operation of hedge funds, including competition from mutual funds, the market environment, and financial regulation, explains key concepts such as hedge fund flows, and core issues of practice, such as hedge fund manager fees. This volume provides insights into the principle head fund strategies and how these have changed over the years. The behavioural dimensions of hedge fund behaviour are evaluated, as are fintech's consequences. The volume evaluates the effects of hedge funds on the firms they invest in, in terms of internal governance, strategy and practice. Furthermore, it explores a range of ethical issues around the operation of hedge funds, how they fit within the wider political economy, and changes in hedge fund regulation and taxation strategies.