Accelerated Share Repurchase is a specific method through which corporations can again purchase outstanding shares of their stock. The accelerated share repurchase (ASR) is generally accomplished by the corporation buying shares of its stock from an investment bank. The investment bank rent the shares from clients or share lenders and sold them to the company. The shares are then returned back to the client through purchases in the open market, frequently purchased over a period that can vary from one day to several months.
Accelerated share repurchases permit corporations to shift the risk of the stock buyback to the investment bank in response for a premium. The corporation is thus able to right away transfer a predetermined amount of money to the investment bank in response for its shares of stock. ASRs are frequently used to buy shares back at a quicker pace and decrease the amount of shares outstanding right away.