Warrant
Categories: Derivatives
In finance, a warrant is good...not bad, like it would be in the case of an arrest. Instead, it's more like a warranty.
A warrant is a type of derivative security that gives the rights to the warrant-holder to buy the underlying stock of the security at the “exercise price” (a fixed, predetermined price) until the expiry date (like a warranty, they don’t last forever).
If you know what stock options are, you might be thinking, “hmmm, a warrant sounds a lot like a stock option..” and you’d be right. They are alike. Warrants differ from options in two ways: first, warrants are issued by the company that owns the stock (not another investor), and second, warrants are put into play only for new shares.
Or, said another way, it’s a cute option. Like, kind of a stock option…light.
Ok, so it pretty much feels just like a stock option. And yes, there are put warrants and call warrants in the same vein as put options and call options.
So then, what’s the difference? Why don’t we just call a warrant a stock option?
Well, warrants are usually issued by the company itself, whereas stock options on, say, Microsoft can be issued by anyone who deals in options. Like…Goldman, Morgan, UBS, Sumitomo…whoever…whatever investment bank that makes capital markets trading happen.
They can all create derivative securities on stocks or bonds of their own volition...and the company itself really has no say as to whether or not they do. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and the others then offer trading in those options on exchanges in regular form, such that many buyers and sellers generally come together liquidly to trade and generate profit margins for the desks at the banks trading the securities.
Got that? Ok, another difference: Warrants can last 5 or 10 or 20-plus years. That’s usually how many weeks options last. And the question remains: why would a company issue what are essentially cheap stock options to others to buy slices of its own pie?
Well, the answer, as with most of these types of company deals, is that the company has to issue those warrants to get a deal done to settle a patent dispute to create a distribution or manufacturing partnership or some other tactical arrangement to make the good better...and to make the problems...go away.
Warrants generally are simply held for the duration of the partnership, or of the company’s existence as an independent entity. Conversely, options are traded liquidly on exchanges all over the world.
Related or Semi-related Video
Finance: What is a Warrant?8 Views
Finance allah shmoop what is ah warrant Oh it's Acute
option Like kind of a stock option Light Yeah That's
How to think about it anyway Okay Okay It pretty
much feels just like a stock option And yes there
are put warrants and call warrants in the same vein
as put options and call options So then what's the
diff why don't we just call a warrant a stock
option Well warrants have you know their own little characteristics
here and they're usually issued by the company itself where
a stock options on say microsoft will They can be
issued by anyone who deals in options like goldman morgan
ups sumitomo whoever whatever investment bank that makes capital markets
trading happened they can issue options trade him have a
spread and then make profits in them and there's nothing
the company can really do about it They can all
create derivative securities on stocks or bonds of their own
volition And the company itself just kind of stands there
looking by and wondering why they didn't get into the
investment banking business Well goldman morgan and the others then
offer trading in those options on exchanges in regular form
Such that many buyers and sellers generally come together liquid
lee to trade and you know generate profit margins for
the desks of the bank's trading the securities right The
banks are basically the casino house and they end up
making most the money most of time Got that Okay
another difference warrants and options here Warming's can last five
ten twenty years that's Usually how many weeks options last
and the question remains Why would a company issue what
are essentially cheap stock options too Others to buy slices
of its own pie While the answer as with most
of these types of company deals is that the company
has to issue those warrants to get a deal done
like you know to settle a patent dispute or created
distribution or manufacturing partnership or some of their tactical arrangement
to make the good better and to make the problems
go away well warrants generally or simply held for the
duration of the partnership or of the company's existence is
an independent and city well and conversely options are traded
liquid leon exchanges all over the world and they can
be sold without a whole lot of discussion with company
Here this kind of warrant which gives you the right
to throw a piece of paper in your own financial
asset jail Very different kind of warrant than this one 00:02:18.383 --> [endTime] You stay away from the arrest warrants