shelf offering

Shelf offering

Offering of registered securities covered by a prospectus whose distribution is not underwritten on a firm commitment basis. The shares may be sold in one block or in small amounts from time to time in agency or principal transactions. See: Rule 415.

Shelf Registration

A method the SEC uses to allow a publicly-traded company to register several new issues of stock and actually offer them at any time over a two-year period, subject to compliance with other appropriate regulations. These offerings are covered by a single prospectus, but may be offered to the public in different tranches. See also: Rule 415.

shelf offering

A new security issue that is part of a larger issue that has been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Companies are permitted to sell securities that are part of a shelf offering for up to two years without re-registering the issue with the SEC.