firm commitment
Standby Agreement
An agreement between the issuer of a security and its underwriters stating that the underwriters are responsible for any unsold portion of the issue. That is, the underwriters agree to buy the remainder of a new issue if they are unable to place its entirety with investors. This transfers the risk of the unsold portion of the issue from the issuer to the underwriters. This guarantees that the issuer will raise the capital it intends to raise, but leaves the underwriters with the possibility that they must purchase an issue with low value. As a result, underwriters charge a standby fee for a standby agreement. It is also called firm commitment underwriting or a backstopped deal.
Farlex Financial Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All Rights Reserved
firm commitment
In securities offerings, a commitment by the underwriter to purchase securities from the issuer for resale to the public. Thus, the sale is guaranteed by a firm commitment to the issuer. With a firm commitment, the risk of being unable to sell an entire issue at the offering price is transferred from the issuer to the underwriter. Also called bought deal.
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.
firm commitment
A lender's unqualified and irrevocable promise to grant a loan for a specified amount, which may be a firm amount or a certain percentage of the appraised value.The commitment will also specify the interest rate,term,and collateral.For commercial mortgages,the borrower should ask that the firm commitment include a statement of anticipated legal fees and other fees and expenses and,if possible,negotiate an upper limit to attorneys'fees.
The Complete Real Estate Encyclopedia by Denise L. Evans, JD & O. William Evans, JD. Copyright © 2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.