Undersubscribed

Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Undersubscribed'

A situation in which the demand for an initial public offering of securities is less than the number of shares issued. Also known as an "underbooking".
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Undersubscribed'

Typically, the goal of a public offering is to price the security issue at the exact price at which all the issued shares can be sold to investors, so there will be neither a shortage nor a surplus of securities. If there is more demand for a public offering than there is supply (shortage), it means a higher price could have been charged and the issuer could have raised more capital. On the other hand, if the price is too high, not enough investors will subscribe to the issue and the underwriting company will be left with shares it either cannot sell or must sell at a reduced price, incurring a loss. Sometimes, when underwriters can't find enough investors to purchase IPO shares, they are forced to purchase the shares that could not be sold to the public (also known as "eating stock").

Sign Up For Term of the Day!

Try Our Stock Simulator!

Test your trading skills!

Related Definitions

  1. Initial Public Offering - IPO

    The first sale ...
  2. Oversubscribed

    A situation in ...
  3. Eating Stock

    The forced ...
  4. Fully Subscribed

    A situation in ...
  5. Pot Is Clean

    A slang phrase ...
  6. Public Offering Price - POP

    The price at ...
  7. Underwriting

    1. The process ...
  8. Syndicate

    A professional ...
  9. Prospectus

    A formal legal ...
  10. Backstop Purchaser

    An entity that ...

Articles Of Interest

  1. IPO Basics Tutorial

    What's an IPO, and how did everybody get so rich off them during the dotcom boom? We give you the scoop.
  2. Brokerage Functions: Underwriting And Agency Roles

    Learning about these various activities can give insight into how securities are issued and traded.
  3. 5 Tips For Investing In IPOs

    Thinking of investing in IPOs? Here are five things to remember before jumping into these murky waters.
  4. How To Interpret A Company's Prospectus

    Learn to decipher the secret language of the prospectus - it can tell you a lot about a company's future.
  5. The Fundamental Mechanics Of Investing

    Here's a story that demonstrates why stocks and bonds were created and how they are valued.
  6. Cashing In On The Venture Capital Cycle

    Find out how VC firms make the market go round, and round and round.
  7. Spotting Sharks Among Penny Stocks

    To protect yourself from an attack, don't swim in this ocean.
  8. 4 Massive Frauds You've Probably Never Heard Of

    Here are four historically significant, obscure, large-scale frauds from the previous two centuries.
  9. Understanding Leveraged Buyouts

    LBOs are often presented as predatory by the media, but it really depends on which side of the deal you're on.
  10. How To Invest In Private Equity

    Private Equity might be a pricey investment, but returns are on the rise and the payoff could be big.

comments powered by Disqus
Recommended
Loading, please wait...
Trading Center