Purchase and Sale

Purchase and sale

A method of securities distribution in which a firm purchases securities from the issuer for its own account at a stated price and then resells them, as contrasted with a best-efforts sale.

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Purchase and Sale

A method of underwriting in which an underwriter buys an issue for his/her own account and then attempts to sell the issue to other investors. If the underwriter is unsuccessful in placing the issue, he/she keeps what remains. It contrasts with various other forms of underwriting, notably best-efforts sale, in which the underwriter returns the remaining issue to the issuer. The Bank of Canada uses a form of the purchase and sale method, known as a Purchase and Resale Agreement, when selling its treasury securities.