We examine the factors that explain the underwriting decision and underwriting fees for Australian initial public offerings (IPOs). Using a sample of Australian IPOs, spanning the period 1999–2019, we document the following results. IPOs that allow oversubscription of the shares, bookbuild offers, and IPOs with a greater delay to listing, are less likely to be underwritten. We also find that more prestigious underwriters are associated with greater IPO underpricing, while charging lower percent underwriting fees. Prestigious underwriters capture side benefits associated with their reputational status by offering their clients or favoured investors with discounted shares.