What is Oversubscription?

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Oversubscription refers to the situation where investors purchase more securities than the number of publicly offered securities during a securities issuance. The occurrence of over-subscription indicates a high degree of market recognition for the securities and represents trust and support for the issuer of the securities.

Definition

Oversubscription occurs when the number of securities investors wish to purchase exceeds the number of securities available for public sale during an issuance. This indicates high market approval of the security and reflects trust and support for the issuer.

Origin

The concept of oversubscription originated with the development of securities markets, particularly during stock and bond issuances. As capital markets matured, the demand for quality securities increased, leading to the phenomenon of oversubscription. Historically, many successful IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) have experienced oversubscription.

Categories and Features

Oversubscription can be categorized into mild, moderate, and heavy oversubscription, depending on the subscription multiple. Mild oversubscription is typically between 1 to 2 times, moderate is between 2 to 5 times, and heavy is over 5 times. Features of oversubscription include market confidence in the issuing company, active investor participation, and potential for increased security prices.

Case Studies

A typical case is Alibaba's IPO in 2014, where the company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange with an oversubscription multiple of several times, demonstrating high investor confidence in its business model and market potential. Another example is Xiaomi's 2018 listing in Hong Kong, which also experienced oversubscription, reflecting market confidence in its innovation capabilities and growth prospects.

Common Issues

Investors facing oversubscription may encounter allocation issues, where the number of securities allocated is less than expected. Additionally, oversubscription can lead to excessively high security prices in the secondary market, increasing investment risk. Investors should carefully assess market sentiment and company fundamentals.

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A liquidity trap is an adverse economic situation that can occur when consumers and investors hoard cash rather than spending or investing it even when interest rates are low, stymying efforts by economic policymakers to stimulate economic growth.The term was first used by economist John Maynard Keynes, who defined a liquidity trap as a condition that can occur when interest rates fall so low that most people prefer to let cash sit rather than put money into bonds and other debt instruments. The effect, Keynes said, is to leave monetary policymakers powerless to stimulate growth by increasing the money supply or lowering the interest rate further.A liquidity trap may develop when consumers and investors keep their cash in checking and savings accounts because they believe interest rates will soon rise. That would make bond prices fall, and make them a less attractive option.Since Keynes' day, the term has been used more broadly to describe a condition of slow economic growth caused by widespread cash hoarding due to concern about a negative event that may be coming.

Liquidity Trap

A liquidity trap is an adverse economic situation that can occur when consumers and investors hoard cash rather than spending or investing it even when interest rates are low, stymying efforts by economic policymakers to stimulate economic growth.The term was first used by economist John Maynard Keynes, who defined a liquidity trap as a condition that can occur when interest rates fall so low that most people prefer to let cash sit rather than put money into bonds and other debt instruments. The effect, Keynes said, is to leave monetary policymakers powerless to stimulate growth by increasing the money supply or lowering the interest rate further.A liquidity trap may develop when consumers and investors keep their cash in checking and savings accounts because they believe interest rates will soon rise. That would make bond prices fall, and make them a less attractive option.Since Keynes' day, the term has been used more broadly to describe a condition of slow economic growth caused by widespread cash hoarding due to concern about a negative event that may be coming.

Liquidity Crisis

A liquidity crisis is a financial situation characterized by a lack of cash or easily-convertible-to-cash assets on hand across many businesses or financial institutions simultaneously.In a liquidity crisis, liquidity problems at individual institutions lead to an acute increase in demand and decrease in supply of liquidity, and the resulting lack of available liquidity can lead to widespread defaults and even bankruptcies.

Liquidity Crisis

A liquidity crisis is a financial situation characterized by a lack of cash or easily-convertible-to-cash assets on hand across many businesses or financial institutions simultaneously.In a liquidity crisis, liquidity problems at individual institutions lead to an acute increase in demand and decrease in supply of liquidity, and the resulting lack of available liquidity can lead to widespread defaults and even bankruptcies.

Liquidity Event

A liquidity event is an acquisition, merger, initial public offering (IPO), or other action that allows founders and early investors in a company to cash out some or all of their ownership shares.A liquidity event is considered an exit strategy for an illiquid investment or equity with little or no market to trade on. Founders of a firm push toward a liquidity event, and investors like venture capital (VC) firms, angel investors, or private equity firms expect one within a reasonable amount of time after initially investing capital.

Liquidity Event

A liquidity event is an acquisition, merger, initial public offering (IPO), or other action that allows founders and early investors in a company to cash out some or all of their ownership shares.A liquidity event is considered an exit strategy for an illiquid investment or equity with little or no market to trade on. Founders of a firm push toward a liquidity event, and investors like venture capital (VC) firms, angel investors, or private equity firms expect one within a reasonable amount of time after initially investing capital.

Liquid Alternatives

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Liquid Alternatives

Liquid alternative investments (or liquid alts) are mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that aim to provide investors with diversification and downside protection through exposure to alternative investment strategies. These products' selling point is that they are liquid, meaning that they can be bought and sold daily, unlike traditional alternatives which offer monthly or quarterly liquidity. They come with lower minimum investments than the typical hedge fund, and investors don't have to pass net-worth or income requirements to invest. Critics argue that the liquidity of so-called liquid alts will not hold up in more trying market conditions; most of the capital invested in liquid alts has entered the market during the post-financial crisis bull market. Critics also contend that the fees for liquid alternatives are too high. For proponents, though, liquid alts are a valuable innovation because they make the strategies employed by hedge funds accessible to retail investors.

Zero-Coupon Convertible

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Zero-Coupon Convertible

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Zero-Investment Portfolio

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Zero-Investment Portfolio

A zero-investment portfolio is a collection of investments that has a net value of zero when the portfolio is assembled, and therefore requires an investor to take no equity stake in the portfolio. For instance, an investor may short sell $1,000 worth of stocks in one set of companies, and use the proceeds to purchase $1,000 in stock in another set of companies.