I don't think so - standard practice is normally the opposite....

I don't think so - standard practice is normally the opposite. That is, if a company needs funds, then anyone/anything prepared to invest a large sum is normally accommodated first e.g. via a placement, and if small shareholders are lucky they would be given the opportunity to buy at the same price as the large shareholder. This CR which is being offered to small shareholders because they do not have any large investor/business who wants to get onboard. It is not underwritten and it has the options to sweeten the deal for the over optimistic.