existing shareholders

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "existing shareholders" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to individuals or entities that currently own shares in a company or organization. Example: "The company will hold a meeting to discuss the new policies that will affect existing shareholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

TPG's arrival dilutes existing shareholders.

The Economist

Raising capital, however, would dilute existing shareholders.

The New York Times

That is good for existing shareholders.

The New York Times

None of the existing shareholders are selling.

The Guardian - Business

And existing shareholders are unlikely to inject money.

The Economist

But the move dilutes the value of existing shareholders' stakes.

The New York Times

Legal & General has penalised existing shareholders by issuing new shares.

The Economist

In the process, Sweden wiped out existing shareholders.

The New York Times

Since May, the company has limited investments to existing shareholders.

The New York Times

Raising capital means diluting existing shareholders, after all.

The New York Times

Existing shareholders will probably love her for it.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the impact of corporate decisions, clearly specify whether the decision benefits or harms "existing shareholders" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "existing shareholders" when referring to potential investors or shareholders who have not yet acquired shares. Use terms like "potential investors" or "prospective shareholders" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "existing shareholders" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and denotes individuals or entities that currently hold shares in a company.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

29%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "existing shareholders" is a grammatically correct and very common noun phrase used to refer to individuals or entities that currently own shares in a company. As Ludwig AI verifies, its usage is widespread across various contexts, primarily in news and media, formal business, and to a lesser extent, in academic and wiki sources. The phrase often appears in discussions regarding corporate actions and financial implications. When writing about shareholders, it's crucial to differentiate between current versus potential shareholders to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "current shareholders" and "incumbent shareholders".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

current shareholders

Replaces "existing" with "current", emphasizing the present ownership status.

present shareholders

Similar to "current shareholders", focusing on the shareholders at a particular time.

incumbent shareholders

Uses "incumbent" to highlight the current holders of shares, especially in contrast to potential new investors.

shareholders of record

Emphasizes the official registry of shareholders.

registered shareholders

Highlights shareholders who are officially registered with the company.

shareholders on the books

An idiomatic expression referring to officially listed shareholders.

established shareholders

Implies shareholders with a long-standing investment in the company.

long-term shareholders

Focuses on shareholders who have maintained their investment over a considerable period.

continuing shareholders

Suggests shareholders who are remaining invested in the company.

remaining shareholders

Implies that some shareholders may have left or sold their shares, while these remain.

FAQs

How does issuing new shares affect "existing shareholders"?

Issuing new shares typically dilutes the ownership stake of "existing shareholders", potentially reducing their percentage of company ownership and earnings per share.

What is an alternative to "existing shareholders"?

You can use alternatives like "current shareholders", "incumbent shareholders", or "present shareholders" depending on the context.

When might "existing shareholders" receive compensation?

Existing shareholders may be compensated during mergers, acquisitions, or stock buyback programs, often receiving cash, shares in the acquiring company, or other forms of consideration.

What rights do "existing shareholders" typically have?

Existing shareholders usually have the right to vote on important company matters, receive dividends (if declared), and inspect company records, subject to certain conditions and regulations.