n.

1. The act of allotting: initiated the allotment of ration coupons.
2. Something allotted: had already used up their weekly allotment of flour.
3. A portion of military pay that is regularly deducted and set aside, as for the payee's dependents or for insurance.

During an IPO, this is the number of shares granted to each participating underwriting firm that they are permitted to sell. Remaining surpluses are then given to other firms which have won the bid for the right to sell the IPO.

Investopedia Says:
This is the chunk each firm gets to sell to its customers before the stock hits the exchanges.

Related Links:
What's an IPO, and how did everybody get so rich off them during the dotcom boom? We give you the scoop. IPO Basics Tutorial
Thinking of investing here? We give you five tips to remember. The Murky Waters Of The IPO Market

Allocation, or share, usually of securities in an underwriting of new issues. Also, a method of filling bids in U.S. Treasury security auctions. In corporate securities, the most common usage occurs in syndicated underwriting where members of the Syndicate subscribe to underwrite and distribute a certain number of shares. If the issue is over-subscribed, a portion of the entire issue is assigned to each participant. Formal notice is given in an allotment notice. In a ratable allotment, for example, if 20 million subscriptions are received for a new issue of only 10 million shares, a participant in the underwriting syndicate who subscribed to 5 million shares would receive an allotment of 2.5 million shares to offer for sale.

noun

That which is allotted: allocation, allowance, dole, lot, measure, part, portion, quantum, quota, ration, share, split. Informal cut. Slang divvy. See collect/distribute.

[MC]

Land allocated in parcels or blocks to the different proprietors in a parish under the Enclosure Acts of the 18th and 19th centuries ad in lieu of former scattered open-field arable, meadow, and rights of pasture.

This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

A portion, share, or division. The proportionate distribution of shares of stock in a corporation. The partition and distribution of land.

A specific amount deducted from a Marine's pay and sent to another entity.

(DOD) The temporary change of assignment of tactical air forces between subordinate commands. The authority to allot is vested in the commander having combatant command (command authority). See also combatant command (command authority).

Dansk (Danish)
n. - jordlod, kolonihave

Nederlands (Dutch)
volkstuintje, toegewezen deel, toekenning

Français (French)
n. - parcelle, lopin de terre, lotissement, distribution, part

Deutsch (German)
n. - Zuteilung, Schrebergarten

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - κατανομή, διάθεση, κλήρος, κτήμα, μερίδιο, τμήμα, παραχώρηση με κλήρο, διακλήρωση

Italiano (Italian)
distribuzione, porzione, orto, assegnazione

Português (Portuguese)
n. - divisão (f) em partes, loteamento (m), parcela (f)

Русский (Russian)
выделение, распределение, сад, огород, назначение

Español (Spanish)
n. - lote, porción, cupo, cuota, huerto, asignación, adjudicación

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - tilldelning, andel

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
配给的土地, 分配, 命运

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 配給的土地, 分配, 命運

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 할당, 운명, 특별 수당, 배치

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 割当て, 分け前, 天命, 割り当て

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) تخصيص, توزيع‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮הקצאה, חלקת אדמה (מוחכרת), חלק, מנה‬

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