What is the function of an underwriter in a securities offering?

The function of an underwriter in a securities offering is to manage the issuance and distribution of new securities. This role includes assessing the company's financial health, determining the appropriate pricing for the securities, and facilitating the sale of these securities to investors. Underwriters work with the issuing company to prepare necessary documents, such as prospectuses, and coordinate the overall offering process. Additionally, they may assume the risk of buying the entire new issue of securities and then reselling them to the public, which is known as a firm commitment underwriting.

By being at the center of the issuance process, underwriters also help ensure that the securities are sold efficiently and that the issuing company is able to raise the intended capital. This essential service encompasses both the planning phase before the securities are offered and the actual marketing and distribution phases, making the underwriter a crucial component of any securities offering.