Final answer:
Tom, as a potential investor in Delta Co., should receive a prospectus before making an investment. The prospectus contains essential information about the company and the investment offering. It is a formal legal document required for securities offerings.
Step-by-step explanation:
If Tom is a potential investor in Delta Co., he should receive a prospectus prior to investing. A prospectus is a formal legal document that provides details about an investment offering to the public, which is often used in the context of an initial public offering (IPO) for stocks. It includes information about the company's business model, financial statements, details about the management team, risks associated with the investment, and the terms of the securities being offered.
A contract summary is not typically used for potential investors but might be part of a final agreement. A closing settlement statement is used in real estate transactions, not securities investments. Lastly, a registration statement is a set of documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which includes the prospectus, but it's not handed directly to investors.