How do institutional buyers acquire a large amount of stock in a company?

Question

I presume they don't buy millions of shares all at once. Do they buy a small amount every day over several weeks? Is it possible to find out which institutions are currently in the aquisition process of large numbers of shares of a particular company?

Answer 1

Some buy on the open market.

Some go directly to the company and make cash deals for blocks of shares taken from the authorized shares rather than the float.  This leads to a larger float.

Some companies go directly to institutions when in need of cash.

However they acquire the shares, if they purchase above a certain % they have to file a form stating so, unless the company is on the pink sheets.