Delayed settlement/delivery

Delayed settlement/delivery

In the context of general equities, transaction in which a contract is settled in excess of five full business days. Seller's option. See: Dividend play, settlement.

Delayed Settlement

A situation in which a buyer or, more commonly, his/her broker, does not receive delivery of the securities he/she bought by the settlement date. A delayed settlement may or may not be by mutual consent of the counterparties to the transaction. A seller may deliberately arrange a delayed settlement so the securities remain on his/her records until a certain event, such as the ex-dividend date, has passed. See also Fail to deliver, Aged fail.