The answer is private placement. It is the transaction of securities to a moderately small number of select investors as a way of raising capital. Investors involved in private placements are frequently large banks, mutual funds, insurance companies and pension funds. A private placement is not the same from a public issue, in which securities are made accessible for sale on the open market to any type of investor. Since a private placement is obtainable to a few selected individuals, the placement does not have to be recorded with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In many circumstances, thorough financial information is not disclosed and the investment is not sold by prospectus.