Flotation in United Kingdom

Definition of Flotation

In accordance with the work A Dictionary of Law, this is a description of Flotation :

A process by which a public company can, by an issue of securities (shares or debentures), raise capital from the public. It may involve a prospectus issue, in which the company itself issues a *prospectus inviting the public to acquire securities; an offer for sale, in which the company sells the securities on offer to an issuing house, which then issues a prospectus inviting the public to purchase the securities from it; or a placing, whereby an issuing house arranges for the securities to be taken up by its own or another’s clients in the expectation that they will ultimately become available to the public on the open market.

See also rights issue; tender offer; underwriter.