What is SC 13D?

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Schedule 13D is a form that must be filed with the U.S. SEC when a person or group acquires more than 5% of a voting class of a company's equity shares. Schedule 13D must be filed within 10 days of the filer reaching a 5% stake.

Definition

SC 13D is a report required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) when an investor acquires more than 5% of a company's stock and intends to actively participate in the company's affairs, or holds more than 5% as a passive investor. The purpose of this report is to inform the public and the company about who has significant influence over the company.

Origin

The origin of SC 13D can be traced back to the Williams Act of 1968, which aimed to increase transparency in corporate acquisition processes. Since then, SC 13D has become the standard document that investors must file when holding a significant amount of a company's shares.

Categories and Features

SC 13D is primarily used to disclose an investor's intentions and plans regarding their shareholding. Its features include detailed information about the holdings, the investor's background, and future plans. Compared to SC 13G, SC 13D is more suited for investors who plan to exert influence over the company.

Case Studies

A typical case is Carl Icahn's investment in Dell Inc. in 2013. He filed an SC 13D indicating that he held more than 5% of the shares and intended to influence the company's management decisions. Another case is William Ackman's investment in Allergan Inc. in 2014, where he filed an SC 13D to disclose his intentions and plans to participate in the company's affairs.

Common Issues

Common issues investors face when filing SC 13D include failing to submit the report within the required ten days or inaccurately disclosing their intentions. Additionally, investors may confuse SC 13D with SC 13G, the latter being applicable to passive investors.

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