Investing What Is a Shelf Offering? By Jeffrey M Green Updated on November 22, 2021 Reviewed by Andy Smith In This Article View All In This Article Definition and Examples of Shelf Offerings How Shelf Offerings Work Types of Shelf Offerings What It Means for Individual Investors Photo: Morsa Images / Getty Images Definition Shelf offerings are a way for companies that are already publicly traded to preregister an offering to be sold at a future date. Key Takeaways Shelf offerings are a way to pre-register securities for sale at a later date.They can provide insights into a company’s plans for raising capital.Shelf offerings allow companies to quickly raise capital when market conditions are favorable or opportunities arise.Companies use shelf offerings to support dividend reinvestment programs. Definition and Examples of Shelf Offerings A shelf offering can be used to pre-register offerings of common stock, preferred stock, debt, or any other type of registered security. A shelf offering can be a primary offering, for example, launching new shares of common stock. Shelf offerings are a way for companies that are already publicly traded to pre-register an offering to be sold at a future date. The offering can then be “taken off the shelf” and brought to market in a short amount of time. It can also be a secondary offering, reselling existing securities such as shares held by insiders at a company. Shelf offerings are cost-effective because companies don’t have to go through the full registration process every time they want to offer new securities. Shelf offerings can only be used by companies that are qualifying issuers. Qualifying issuers have: Previously registered a class of securities for sale Filed all required financial reporting on a timely basis in the last 12 months Principal business operations in the U.S. Not defaulted on preferred stock dividends, debt, or lease installments Some companies qualify as Well-Known Seasoned Issuers (WKSIs). The qualifications are either: A worldwide market cap held by non-affiliates of $700 million or more, or Issuance in the last three years of at least a $1 billion aggregate principal amount of non-convertible securities, other than common equity, in primary offerings for cash. Non-convertible securities (such as non-convertible bonds, for example) don’t offer the option to convert into another security (such as common stock). Note Companies can use shelf offerings to quickly raise new capital for a product launch, acquisition, or any other opportunity. Shelf offerings can also be taken advantage of to quickly capitalize on favorable conditions. For example, a real estate company might file a shelf offering in anticipation of an improved housing market. Shelf offerings are also an effective way for companies to continuously bring new issues to market, possibly to support a dividend reinvestment program for shareholders. How Shelf Offerings Work A shelf offering begins with a shelf registration using U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Form S-3. The registration discloses the type of security for the future offering, common stock, debt securities, preferred stock, etc. The registration includes a base prospectus and a supplement to be used when the offering is “taken off the shelf.” The base prospectus describes the offering, the company’s operations, and how the proceeds will be used. The registration is submitted to the SEC for review and comment, which typically takes several weeks. Shelf registrations by WKSI companies are automatically effective when filed. Note When an offering is “taken off the shelf,” the company files a supplemental prospectus with the SEC. It describes the terms of the offering, price, quantity, and more, along with other information required by the SEC. The “takedown” is then brought to market without the delay of SEC review. Types of Shelf Offerings Continuous Offering In continuous offerings, securities are offered immediately after the registration statement is effective. They continue to be offered through the registration period. Company dividend reinvestment programs are an example of these types of offerings. Delayed Offering Delayed offerings take place sometime in the future—or not at all. A delayed offering might be used to register existing shares of stock held by insiders for resale in the future. At-the-Market Offering Shares are to be sold through an existing trading market, like the Nasdaq Stock Market or New York Stock Exchange, at the market price instead of a fixed price. Over-the-Wall Transactions Shelf registrations can be used by underwriters to pre-market an offering to institutional investors before a public announcement. Underwriters contact institutional investors regarding an upcoming offering without disclosing the details. If the investors are interested, they are “brought over the wall” and the details of the offering are disclosed. Over-the-wall transactions need shelf registrations to meet regulatory requirements. Primary Offering A primary offering of new common stock has special requirements. The company has to have an aggregate market value of voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of at least $75 million. Secondary Offering Securities offered in a secondary shelf offering have to be the same class as the securities listed on a national exchange. Note Investors can research companies’ S-3 filings on shelf offerings in the SEC Edgar database. What It Means for Individual Investors Shelf-offering registrations can potentially give investors insights into a company’s plans for raising capital. Some analysts view shelf registrations negatively because new shares will dilute and depress the price of current shares. Others take the view that shelf registrations are a potential tool to retire debt, which will benefit shareholders. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. "Form S-3," Page 2. Accessed Sept. 17, 2021. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. "Revised Statement on Well-Known Seasoned Issuer Waivers." Accessed Sept. 17, 2021. American Bar Association. "Jumping Through the Market Window: The Value of a Shelf Registration Statement." Accessed Sept. 17, 2021. Ward & Smith, P.A. "Availability and Benefits of Shelf Offerings for Public Issuers." Accessed Sept. 17, 2021.