Initial bid that sets a floor in a competitive sale process.

  • Initial bid that sets a floor in a competitive sale process.
  • Used in distressed Class A asset sales (often court-supervised).

Stalking-horse offer

Investment · US

Short definition

Initial bid that sets a floor in a competitive sale process.

Full definition

Used in distressed Class A asset sales (often court-supervised). Sets minimum bid plus a break-up fee paid to the stalking horse if outbid. Standard tool in 2023–24 distressed Class A trades.

Why this matters for Class A leasing

Stalking-horse offer is part of the investment vocabulary that institutional Class A occupiers, landlords, and advisers use across US markets. Understanding it correctly affects how you read lease documents, model occupancy economics, and benchmark deal terms across cities. Class A Atlas tracks the US definition alongside the global standard so cross-border occupiers can translate quickly.