What is the meaning of Private Placement Memorandum (or Private Offering Memorandum, Private Offering Circular or Offering Circular)?

Private Placement Memorandum (or Private Offering Memorandum, Private Offering Circular or Offering Circular) is a document used to describe securities being offered on a private basis rather than in a public offering exempt from the registration requirements of national competent authorities, or in the USA exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. It may contain much of the same information that would be included in a prospectus.