SHELF REGISTRATION

A procedure that allows firms to file one registration statement covering several issues of the same security . It is the term used for S.E.C. Rule 415 adopted in the 1980's, which allows a corporation to comply with registration requirements up to two years prior to a public offering of securities. With the registration "on the shelf," the corporation, by simply updating regularly filed annual, quarterly, and related reports to the S.E.C. , can go to the market as conditions become favorable with a minimum of administrative preparation and expense.