Shelf Registration

Definition:

A process available in the United States to both Domestic Registrants and Foreign Private Issuers pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act, whereby an issuer’s securities are registered with the SEC for one or more future offerings of the securities within a three-year period following registration. This process permits issuers to issue new securities quickly because the registration of the securities is effective and they merely have to be “taken off the shelf” rather than undergo the full registration Review Process with the SEC at the time of the offering. A company must still comply with its Quarterly Reporting and Periodic Reporting obligations with the SEC regardless of whether it has a Shelf Registration on file with the SEC. A Shelf Registration is effective for three years.