Apart from listing shares on stock markets and engaging in initial public offerings (IPOs), companies often resort to alternative methods of raising capital. In September 2005 , Google raised $4.18 billion by selling additional shares of common stock at $295 per share when its trading at around $303 per share. It was the largest secondary offering by a US high-tech company over the past ten years. This is an example of a private placement. shelf registration. seasoned equity offering. A firm decides to raise capital and has made a preliminary decision to sell a block of securities to the entity that makes the highest offer. This procedure is referred to as a