Undersubscribed

Definition

In finance, undersubscribed refers to a situation when the demand for an offering, such as shares in an IPO (Initial Public Offering), bonds, or other securities, is less than the quantity being offered. In other words, there are not enough buyers for the securities being sold. This often has negative implications for the issuer as it may lead to reduced capital raising or lower share prices.

Phonetic

The phonetic spelling of “Undersubscribed” is: ʌndərsəbˈskraɪbd

Key Takeaways

1. When a security offering, such as an initial public offering (IPO), or another selling of securities, is undersubscribed, fewer shares are sold than are really available.
2. An IPO or other securities offering could be undersubscribed for a variety of reasons. These motives consist of:
   1. The asking price can be excessive.
   2. It’s possible that the business is unknown or has a poor track record.
   3. There could be unfavorable information about the business or the sector.
3. For the company involved, an undersubscribed IPO might have a number of negative effects. These effects consist of:
   1. It might be necessary for the corporation to cut the offering price or end the offering entirely.
   2. Future capital raising may prove challenging for the business.
   3. The stock price of the corporation could be less than anticipated.

Importance

The term “Undersubscribed” is important in business and finance as it refers to a scenario when the demand for an initial public offering (IPO), bond issuance, or other new issue of securities is less than the number of shares or bonds being offered. This can be problematic for the issuing company as it signals a lack of investor interest, which can negatively affect the company’s ability to raise capital, its market reputation, and stock price. Identifying an undersubscribed offering early can allow companies to adjust their strategies accordingly, potentially altering the pricing, marketing plan, or even postponing the offering, in contrast to an oversubscribed offering where demand exceeds the issued share quantity.

Explanation

In the realm of finance and business, the term “undersubscribed” plays a significant role, especially in the context of public offerings or new issues within a market. Essentially, a situation is described as undersubscribed when the demand for an initial public offering (IPO) or share issuance does not meet the number of shares or securities available. This usually points to a lack of interest or confidence from the investors in the product or the issuing company, potentially stemming from poor marketing, pricing issues, or a general uncertainty within the economic climate. Undersubscription is a vital indicator of a company’s standing and assessment in the market. Companies aim to avoid undersubscribed situations as they are generally seen as a failure to generate sufficient interest or raise adequate capital, which could undermine the company’s reputation amongst investors. However, underwriters often protect against this risk by agreeing to purchase any remaining shares at the offer price. This mechanism is crucial in ensuring that companies can raise the maximum amount of funds during security issuances regardless of how the market perceives them. Therefore, understanding and managing undersubscription is a must for underwriters and businesses intending to debut in the capital markets.

Examples

1. Initial Public Offering (IPO) of a Company: Suppose a tech startup decides to go public and go through an IPO process. They release 1 million shares for subscription at a particular price but only 800,000 shares are actually sold. This would make the IPO undersubscribed, as the demand for shares was less than the supply made available by the company. 2. Government Bonds: If a government issues bonds to raise funds, but the demand from investors is lower than the quantity of bonds issued, then that particular government bond issue is said to be undersubscribed. For example, in 2016, the government of Taiwan issued a bond that was undersubscribed with only 96% of the total available securities sold. 3. Rights Issue: A company might want to raise capital by giving its existing shareholders the right to buy additional shares at a discount, this is known as a Rights Issue. If the shareholders do not buy all of the shares available (maybe the company is performing poorly and the shareholders do not want to invest more money), the Rights Issue will be undersubscribed. For instance, in 2019, Mothercare’s £46m rights issue was undersubscribed with only 95% of the shares purchased.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

Related Finance Terms

• Over-Subscription
• Initial Public Offering (IPO)
• Capital Markets
• Share Allotment
• Unfilled Orders

Sources for More Information

• Investopedia
• The Business Professor
• Investing Answers
• Wint Wealth