What is Subscribed?
In initial public offerings (IPOs) and other security issuances, subscribing is an exciting agreement for an investor to purchase a certain number of newly issued shares or bonds before the official offering date. This is a thrilling anticipation of owning those securities once the offering is complete. Typically, this is done by institutional investors who may be guaranteed a certain allocation of shares.
How Subscription Work
When a private company needs to raise money, it can sell shares of ownership to the public through an initial public offering (IPO). To navigate this process, companies hire investment banks as underwriters, who are responsible for setting the price of the shares being offered.
The underwriter's goal is to find the sweet spot for the offering price. This means attracting enough investors, or subscribers, to purchase the shares. A subscriber expresses interest by either buying or agreeing to buy a certain number of shares during the offering.
Large investment firms and wealthy individuals, known as accredited investors and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), typically have access to these offerings through their brokers. These opportunities often aren't available to everyday investors, known as retail investors.
The underwriter walks a tightrope. If the price is too low, it might sell out quickly, but the company might have preferred a higher price. On the other hand, if the price is too high, investors may lose interest, leaving the underwriter with unsold shares and potential losses.
Outcomes of Subscription
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Subscription vs. Full Subscription: An offering can be fully subscribed, meaning all available shares have been purchased by subscribers. This is a positive sign for the company issuing the offering.
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Oversubscribed vs. Undersubscribed: An offering can also be oversubscribed, where demand is higher than the available shares, or undersubscribed, where demand is lower.