Competitive bidding

A securities offering process in which securities firms submit competing bids to the issuer for the securities the issuer wishes to sell.

Competitive Bid

A sealed bid, given to an issuer by an underwriter, containing a prospective price and terms for a contract. At the close date of bidding, the issuer picks the best offer. U.S. Government agencies are usually required to use this process and award the contract to the least expensive option. This is also used for various other ventures, from IPOs to project finance.

competitive bidding

1. A method by which a corporation or government organization wishing to sell securities in the primary market chooses an investment banker for the sale on the basis of the best price submitted by interested investment bankers. Municipal governments and public utilities are often required to ask for competitive bids on new security issues. See also negotiated offering.

2. The bidding on U.S. Treasury securities in which an investor stipulates a particular price or yield.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms for Today's Investor by David L. Scott. Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. All rights reserved.

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