WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

rights issue
    n 1: an offering of common stock to existing shareholders who
         hold subscription rights or pre-emptive rights that entitle
         them to buy newly issued shares at a discount from the
         price at which they will be offered to the public later;
         "the investment banker who handles a rights offering
         usually agrees to buy any shares not bought by
         shareholders" [syn: rights offering, rights issue]