Direct Public Offerings: Benefits and Drawbacks

The direct public offering offers a relatively unique form of financing that is just beginning to catch on with business owners and individual investors.

In a direct public offering, a business issues registered shares without the full expense of an initial public offering. Since direct public offerings are issued through officers and directors, there are no underwriters. Shares are marketed directly to parties that might have an interest in the company, and the buyers often include customers, distributors, or employees.

For companies that aren