Investing and Money Glossary, terms and definitions.

Form 13-D

A form that must be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission whenever an investor acquires 5 percent of any public company. These filings are closely watched, since they can signal a takeover or change of ownership. At the very least, the implication is that someone who owns this much stock could influence the board's decisions. Because of the 5 percent rule, financiers sometimes stop at 4.9 percent to avoid giving away their identity and driving up prices.