Cross-listing and the long-term performance of ADRs: Revisiting European evidence

In this paper, we examine several cross-listing theories employing a sample of over 250 European ADRs representing 19 countries during the 1970-2002 period. We find that, first, though both Levels II and III listings underperform over the 3 years subsequent to the US listing, the determinants of long-term performance are significantly different for the non-IPO and IPO firms. Second, there is a strong support for investor recognition in the non-IPO sample, for window-of-opportunity in the IPO sample, and for bonding in both samples, but little support for the market segmentation hypothesis. Overall, our results support the notion that different cross-listing theories are complementary and not mutually exclusive, in explaining the long-term performance.