preliminary prospectus

Preliminary Prospectus

A first draft registration statement filed by a firm prior to proceeding with an initial public offering of securities. The document, filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, is intended to provide pertinent information to prospective shareholders about the company's business description, management, strategic initiatives, financial statements and ownership structure.

Notes:

The SEC requires a preliminary prospectus to be printed with red ink on the left side of the cover as a result, the document has been nicknamed the "red herring".

See also: Investment Bank, Initial Public Offering - IPO, Prospectus, Public Offering Price - POP, Red Herring, Securities & Exchange Commission - SEC, Underwriting

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Preliminary prospectus

An initial or tentative version of a prospectus.

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preliminary prospectus

See red herring.