Let sleeping dogs sleep

Every once in a way an idea takes hold which is supposed to be the panacea for a specific problem plaguing the local equity markets. Share buy-backs were seen to be the perfect tonic for reviving anaemic secondary markets in the late 90’s: but markets began their secular uptick not when buy-backs were permitted in 1998, but a few years later when earnings picked-up steam. Dual class shares are seen to be an answer to moribund IPO markets today. That investors should have more flexibility in raising money and investors in deploying funds is a given. But to argue that dual class shares alone can bring the zip back to the IPO markets is dubious as their deleterious impact may far outweigh their advantages.

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