Bonus Issue or shares are an exciting way for companies to reward their existing shareholders! When a company performs well but prefers to reinvest its profits rather than pay cash dividends, it may issue bonus shares instead. Let’s dive into what bonus shares are, how they work, and why they matter.

What Is a Bonus Issue?

Bonus Issue are additional shares given to existing shareholders at no extra cost, based on the number of shares they already own. Essentially, these shares come from the company's accumulated profits, which are converted into free shares rather than being distributed as cash dividends.

How Do Bonus Issues Work?

When a company issues bonus shares, it increases the number of shares available in the market without changing the overall market capitalization. For example, if you own 100 shares and the company declares a bonus issue of 1:2 (meaning one bonus share for every two shares owned), you would receive 50 additional shares, bringing your total to 150.

Here’s an Example from NBCC Ltd’s recently announced Bonus shares:

 

Bonus Ratio 01:02
Announcement Date 31-Aug-24
Record Date 07-Oct-24
Ex-Bonus Date 07-Oct-24
Credit Date  31-Oct-24

 

  • Bonus Ratio (1:2): For every two shares you own, you receive one bonus share. If you own 200 shares, you'll get 100 bonus shares (200 * 1/2)
  • Announcement Date (31-Aug-24): This is the date when the company officially announces the bonus shares
  • Record Date (07-Oct-24): Shareholders who own shares on this date in their Demat account will receive the bonus shares as per the decided ratio
  • Ex-Bonus Date (07-Oct-24): This is the cut-off date after which the stock starts trading without the bonus issue value
  • Credit Date (31-Oct-24): This is when the bonus shares will be credited to your Demat account

 

Why Do Companies Issue Bonus Shares?

Companies typically issue bonus shares when they have large reserves or profits but do not want to distribute cash. This could be because they want to reinvest the cash back into the business or simply because they want to reward their shareholders without reducing their cash reserves.

Who Is Eligible for Bonus Shares?

To receive bonus shares, you must own the company’s shares before the record date and ex-date. If you buy shares on or after the ex-date, you will not qualify for the bonus shares.

Types of Bonus Shares

 

  • Fully Paid Bonus Shares:  These shares are issued at no extra cost to shareholders. They come from various reserves like profits and capital reserves.
  • Partially Paid Bonus Shares: These are shares that shareholders have partially paid. When bonus shares are issued for these shares, they become fully paid.

Advantages of Bonus Shares

For Investors:

  • Tax Benefits: Receiving bonus shares is not taxable.
  • Cost-Free: They increase your holdings without requiring additional investment.
  • Trust Building: Bonus shares can enhance investor confidence in the company’s management and profitability.

For Companies:

  • Enhanced Value: Issuing bonus shares can improve the company's market perception.
  • Increased Liquidity: More shares in the market can improve trading activity.

Disadvantages of Bonus Shares

For Investors:

  • Reduced Earnings Per Share (EPS): Although you have more shares, the overall profit remains the same, which may dilute the EPS.

For Companies:

  • No Cash Inflow: Issuing bonus shares doesn’t raise any money for the company.
  • Increased Obligation: Frequent bonus issues may lead to a long-term burden if investors expect dividends.

Conclusion

Bonus shares are a great way for companies to reward their shareholders without affecting their cash flow. By issuing additional shares based on existing ownership, companies not only enhance their share capital but also reflect their financial strength. For investors, bonus shares can be a great addition to their portfolio, provided they understand the implications.

By keeping an eye on important dates and understanding how bonus shares work, you can take advantage of this rewarding corporate action! Always check the corporate actions history of a company before investing so you can stay well informed.

 

Disclaimer: 

Adroit Financial Services Private Limited (hereinafter referred to as “Adroit”), Registered Address: F-912, Titenium City Center, Nr. Sachin Towers, 100 Feet Ring Road, Anand Nagar, Manekbag, Ahmedabad, Ahmadabad City, Gujarat, India, 380015. Correspondence Address: 401-402, Fourth Floor,Angel Mega Mall, Plot No. CK1, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, 201010.Registration Nos.: CIN: U74899GJ1994PTC128736|SEBI Registration Nos.: NSE, BSE, MCX & NCDEX : INZ000173137|Member code: BSE-3034, NSE- 08538, MCX- 56790 & NCDEX- 01302|DP- NSDL/CDSL – IN-DP-551-2021|Research Analyst: INH100003084| Portfolio Management Services (PMS): INP000005349. Standard Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all the related documents carefully before investing. This is for educational purposes and does not provide any advice/tips on Investment or recommend buying and selling of any stock. Adroit or its associates has not been debarred/ suspended by SEBI or any other regulatory authority for accessing/ dealing in securities Market. Adroit or its associates/analyst has not received any compensation/ managed or co-managed public offering of securities of the company covered by Analyst during the past twelve months. This document is solely for the personal information of the recipient, and must not be singularly used as the basis of any investment decision. Nothing in this document should be construed as investment or financial advice. Each recipient of this document should make such investigations as they deem necessary to arrive at an independent evaluation of an investment in the securities of the companies referred to in this document (including the merits and risks involved), and should consult their own advisors to determine the merits and risks of such an investment. The information in this document has been printed on the basis of publicly available information, internal data and other reliable sources believed to be true, but we do not represent that it is accurate or complete and it should not be relied on as such, as this document is for general guidance only. Neither Adroit, nor its directors, employees or affiliates shall be liable for any loss or damage that may arise from or in connection with the use of this information. Adroit Financial Services Private Limited has not independently verified all the information contained within this document. Accordingly, we cannot testify, nor make any representation or warranty, express or implied, to the accuracy, contents or data contained within this document. Margin Trading Funding (MTF) is subject to provisions of SEBI circular CIR/MRD/DP/54/2017 dated June 13,2017 and the terms and conditions mentioned in the rights and obligations statement issued by Adroit Financial Services Pvt. Ltd.

 


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