Open Offer: A Share Issue Offered to Existing Shareholders Without Tradable Rights

An open offer is a corporate share issue in which existing shareholders are invited to buy new shares, usually at a set price, but without receiving tradable rights in the way they would in a rights issue.

It is a capital-raising method used by listed companies when they want to bring in new equity while still giving existing shareholders a chance to participate.

Why It Matters

Open offers matter because they can change ownership economics.

If a shareholder does not participate, that shareholder’s percentage ownership may fall. Unlike a Rights Issue, the investor usually cannot simply sell the right in the market to recover some value.

How It Works

In a typical open offer:

• the company announces the number of new shares and the subscription price
• existing shareholders are invited to subscribe, usually in proportion to existing holdings
• the offer remains open for a limited period
• shares not taken up are handled under the terms of the transaction

Because the rights are typically not separately tradable, the structure is less flexible for a shareholder who wants value without contributing more cash.

Why Companies Use It

Companies may use open offers to:

• raise growth capital
• strengthen the balance sheet
• fund acquisitions or restructuring
• give existing holders priority before broader issuance

It often sits alongside broader Secondary Offering discussions about equity issuance and dilution.

Related Terms

• Rights Issue
• Secondary Offering
• Share Dilution