2. The offer and application process
Methods of offer: offer for subscription, offer for sale and placing
There are two main types: retail and institutional offerings
| Retail | Institutional | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | More expensive as must appoint receiving bank to deal with share applications. Also more advertising required which adds to cost | Shares offerd through IB and broker directly to investors |
| Timing | More marketing required and share application requests to be processed, so generally takes longer | Fewer investors usually identified prior to Launch |
| Shareholder Liquidity | Results in larger shareholder base | Lower liquidity as shares held in hands of fewer SH |
Retail Offers
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| Offer for subscription: “…subscribe for securities not yet in issue..” |
| A. Company issues new shares as way of raising capital for company |
| B. Shares offered to public in IPO: Investors subscribe for shares; and |
| C. Company appoints receiving bank to accept applications from public and eal with payment for shares |
| Offer for Sale: “…purchase securities of issuer already in issue or allotted…” |
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Institutional Offers
| Placing: “…marketing of securities already in issue but not listed…” |
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When a prospectus is required
Prospectus
Also used to market issue to investors. Must contain all relevant info an investor would require in order to make an informed decision as to whether to invest in shares. It is required either by s. 85(1) FSMA or s. 85(2) FSMA and with no relevant exemptions applying.
Format of prospectus
| PR 2.1.1-2.1.7 | The Summary |
|---|---|
| PR 2.2.1 | Can be single doc or separate doc |
| PR 2.2.2 PR 2.2.3 | If separate, must divide the info into reg doc, sec note, and summary Reg doc + sec note + summary = valid prospectus |
| PR 2.2.4 | If already have a reg doc approved by FCA must only draw up sec note and summary on admission to trading (see PR 5.1.4: Reg doc valid 12 months so long as updated) and be aware of PR 2.2.5 |
| PR 2.2.6 | When requesting admission, can choose to file reg doc without approval. If do so, entire documentation including updated info, is subject to approval. |
| PR 2.2.10 | Format of the prospectus, both if single document or separate documents. |
Contents of prospectus – specific and general disclosure obligations
| s. 87A FSMA and PR 2.1.1 | General Obligation of disclosure |
|---|---|
| Articles 3 – 6 and 21 PD Reg Annexes I-III and XVIII as set out in PR App 3.1 | How to determine specific disc obligations |
| Art 24 PD as set out in PR 2.1.4 and Annex XXII of PD REg as set out in PR 3.1 | Contents of Summary (use Annex XVIII as PRs not correctly shaded) |
| PR 2.1.7R | Summary must also contain a warning |
Timetables for retail and institutional offers
| Approval of Prospectus | |
|---|---|
| PR 3.1.1, 3.1.3 | Applying to FCA for approval of Prospectus and when this must be done (PR 3.3.3(2)) |
| PR 3.1.4 | Drafts of documents |
| PR 3.1.7 PR 3.1.10 | Approval of prospectus (echoes s 87A(1)) and must not be published until approved |
| PR 2.3.2 | Final offer price and amount of securities not included in prospectus |
| Filing and Publication | |
| s. 85(2) FSMA | Unlawful to request the admission of transferable securities to which this subsection applies to trading on a regulated market situated or operating in the United Kingdom unless an approved prospectus has been made available to the public before the request is made. |
| PR 3.2.1 | Must file prospectus with FCA after approed |
| PR 3.2.2-3.2.3 | Prospectus must be filed and made available to public as soon as practicable and at least at beginning of the offer or the admission to trading of securities involved. If IPO of class of shares not already admitted, prospectus must be made available to the public at least six working days before the end of the offer. |
| PR 3.2.4 | When a prospectus is deemed made available to public |
| PR 3.2.5 | Text and format of prospectus must be identical to the one submitted to FCA |
| PR 3.2.6 | Even if electronically available, paper copy must be delivered to investor upon request. |
| Application for admission to listing | |
| LR 3.2 | Application for admission to listing: |
| LR 3.3 | Shares: application, documents to be provided 48 hours in advance, docs to be provided on the day, other docs to be submitted, documents to be kept |