A Greenshoe Option is a provision in an initial public offering (IPO) that allows the underwriters to sell more shares than initially planned, usually up to 15% extra, if there is high investor demand.
Types includes Full, Partial and Reverse Greenshoe.
A Greenshoe Option (also called an over-allotment option) is a provision in an initial public offering (IPO) that allows the underwriters to sell more shares than initially planned, usually up to 15% extra, if there is high investor demand. It helps stabilize the stock price after the IPO and protect underwriters from price volatility.
The term "Greenshoe" comes from the Green Shoe Manufacturing Company, the first company to use this provision in an IPO. Today, it's a standard practice in IPOs around the world.
Type | Explanation |
---|---|
Full Greenshoe | Underwriters exercise the entire 15% over-allotment |
Partial Greenshoe | Only part of the over-allotment is exercised |
Reverse Greenshoe | Used to buy shares from the market to support price (less common) |
Suppose a company offers shares at ₹100 each in an IPO:
In India, the SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) permits the use of the Greenshoe option to stabilize the post-listing price of an IPO. It is commonly used in large IPOs, especially in high-demand scenarios.