Death Play

Death Play - The purchase of stock certificates and then suddenly sold short with the expectation of the initial company or corporation's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to die in a relatively short period of time is death play. For example, if a CEO recently diagnosed with a life-threatening disease and this information leaked out to the public domain, it will be devastating to the company or corporation at hand. Investing shareholders will gather up their stock certificates listed within their individual portfolio and begin the arduous task of selling the stock quickly. It is a strategy that buys stock certificates on a bet.