Primary market

The primary market is that part of the capital markets that deals with the issuance of new securities. Companies, governments or public sector institutions can obtain funding through the sale of a new stock or bond issue. This is typically done through a syndicate of securities dealers. The process of selling new issues to investors is called underwriting. In the case of a new stock issue, this sale is an initial public offering (IPO). Dealers earn a commission that is built into the price of the security offering, though it can be found in the prospectus.

Features of primary markets are:

• This is the market for new long term equity capital. The primary market is the market where the securities are sold for the first time. Therefore it is also called the new issue market (NIM).
• In a primary issue, the securities are issued by the company directly to investors.
• The company receives the money and issues new security certificates to the investors.
• Primary issues are used by companies for the purpose of setting up new business or for expanding or modernizing the existing business.
• The primary market performs the crucial function of facilitating capital formation in the economy.
• The new issue market does not include certain other sources of new long term external finance, such as loans from financial institutions. Borrowers in the new issue market may be raising capital for converting private capital into public capital; this is known as "going public."
• The financial assets sold can only be redeemed by the original holder.

Methods of issuing securities in the primary market are:

• Initial public offering;
• Rights issue (for existing companies);
• Preferential issue.

See also

• Secondary market
• Third market
• Fourth market

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