A share is a unit of ownership in a company that represents a proportionate claim on its assets and earnings. A company may issue new shares to the public to raise capital for various purposes. When shares are issued, they are offered for subscription to the public at a certain price, known as the issue price. The total number of shares offered is also specified.
When the number of shares applied for is less than the total number of shares offered, the issue is said to be under-subscribed. This means that there is a shortfall in the demand for the shares, and the company may not be able to raise the full amount of capital it had hoped for. In this situation, the company may have to cancel the issue, or it may have to find other ways to raise the required capital.
Therefore, when the number of shares applied for is less than the offer, the issue is under-subscribed. Answer (C) is correct.
In summary, a share issue is said to be under-subscribed when the number of shares applied for is less than the total number of shares offered.