Shares issued at a premium are a typical follow amongst firms. It’s very true throughout occasions of progress or enlargement. However what does it imply, and why do firms do it? Within the article, we are going to discover the idea of shares issued at a premium and the causes behind it. We’ll additionally see the advantages it will probably carry to each firms and traders.
The follow of issuing shares at a premium is a major step for a listed firm. Why? As a result of it gives firms with a technique to elevate capital. The funds so raised can be utilized for enlargement, modernization, funding, or debt reimbursement.
It is usually an enticing possibility for traders as issuing shares at a premium gives a chance for greater returns on funding (ROI).
Nonetheless, the choice to difficulty shares at a premium has authorized and accounting implications that must be fastidiously thought of.
Now, allow us to get into the main points immediately.
#1. That means of Shares Issued At A Premium
What does it imply by shares issued at a premium?
Shares issued at a premium check with a state of affairs the place an organization presents its shares at a worth greater than its face worth. In India, the par worth of a share is usually a optimistic complete quantity, equivalent to Rs.1, Rs.2, or Rs.10. Nonetheless, the par worth can’t be in fractions, equivalent to Rs.1.5 or Rs.2.5.
Suppose there’s a firm named ABC that has shares with a face worth of Rs.2 per share. It decides to promote the shares at Rs.52 per share throughout its IPO. On this case, the share is claimed to be issued at a premium of Rs.50.
The premium is calculated because the distinction between the promoting worth and the par worth, which on this case is Rs.50 (52 – 2).
#2. Licensed Capital Vs Issuing Shares At Premium
What is permitted capital? It’s the most quantity of shares an organization can difficulty to lift capital via the fairness route. Licensed Capital = Complete Variety of Shares x Face Worth.
Licensed capital and its break-up, between the variety of shares and face worth, is talked about in firms Memorandum of Affiliation (MOA). It’s a authorized doc ready by the corporate throughout its formation and registration.
[Note: It is possible to increase the authorized capital at any time, but after taking the approval of the shareholders of the company. The Registrar of Companies must also be notified and complied with in this regard.]
Instance: Authorised Capital for Axis Financial institution.
- Complete Nos of Shares that may be issued by Axis Financial institution as per MOA (N): 425 Crore numbers.
- Face Worth of Every Share (FV): Rs.2
- Licensed Capital = N x FV = Rs.850 Crore (425 x 2).
Interpretation of Licensed Capital
This could be a little bit tough. It is very important perceive the limitation of Authorised Capital extra clearly. What’s the limitation? Let’s take a quiz. Which of the next assertion is right?
- First, Axis Financial institution (an organization) can’t elevate funds greater than its licensed capital (Rs.850 Crore) indicated in MOA, or
- Second, Axis Financial institution (an organization) can’t promote shares of greater than 425 crore numbers as indicated in MOA.
Which of the above statements is true? The second assertion is true. Axis Financial institution can’t difficulty extra shares than 425 crore quantity.
Whereas an organization is allowed to promote its shares at a premium, it can’t difficulty shares past its licensed capital restrict with out amending its memorandum of affiliation. Thus, licensed capital units a restrict on the utmost quantity of capital that an organization can elevate from its shareholders.
The utility of licensed capital is that it gives a framework for the corporate to plan its future capital necessities. This manner the corporate can difficulty new shares sooner or later with out having to undergo the method of accelerating its licensed capital each time it needs to lift further capital.
Is there any restrict to the shares being issued at a premium worth (above its face worth)?
There isn’t a particular restrict on the premium quantity that an organization can cost for its shares. However the premium have to be justified by the corporate’s monetary place and the prevailing market circumstances.
Moreover, the corporate should get hold of approval from its board of administrators and shareholders for the issuance of shares at a premium.
Instance of Licensed Capital vs Shares Issued At A Premium
Let’s see hypothetical examples of how a lot fund Axis Financial institution can elevate by issuing shares at completely different worth ranges.

- Possibility#1: Axis Financial institution issuing shares at par. It could actually elevate a most of Rs.850 crores. Funds raised = N x FV = Rs.850 crores (425 x 2)
- Possibility#2: Axis Financial institution issuing shares at a reduction of fifty%. It could actually elevate a most of Rs.425 crores. Funds raised = N x FV = Rs.425 crores (425 x 1)
- Possibility#3: Axis Financial institution issuing shares at a premium of Rs.50. It could actually elevate a most of Rs.22,100 crores. Funds raised = N x FV = Rs.22,100 crores (425 x 52)
It’s usually not allowed to difficulty shares at a reduction to the face worth in India. As per the Corporations Act, 2013, an organization can difficulty shares solely at face worth or at a premium.
Nonetheless, there are some exceptions to this rule. An organization can difficulty shares at a reduction to the face worth in sure instances. When the shares are issued to its workers underneath an worker inventory possibility scheme or to its collectors underneath a debt restructuring plan.
In such instances, the low cost have to be authorized by the corporate’s board of administrators and shareholders.
#3. Causes For Shares Problem At A Premium
An organization might determine to difficulty shares at a premium for varied causes:
- Elevating Capital: One of many major causes for issuing shares at a premium is to lift capital for the corporate. By issuing shares at a premium, the corporate can elevate extra capital than it might by issuing shares at face worth.
- Bettering Future Earnings: An organization can difficulty shares at a premium to fund analysis and improvement, capital expenditure, acquisitions, and so on. This may finally enhance the corporate’s income earnings over time.
- Debt Reimbursement: An organization can also use the proceeds from issuing shares at a premium to repay its money owed. Lowering its debt burden will enhance its creditworthiness.
Total, issuing shares at a premium gives firms with higher flexibility in elevating capital and helps them obtain their monetary targets extra effectively.
#4. A Manner To Justify The Issuance of Shares At A Premium
Suppose an organization ABC needs to difficulty one crore quantity shares in its IPO. It needs to difficulty it at a premium worth of Rs.150 per share. The Face Worth of those shares is Rs. 2 per share.
Within the final 4 quarters, the corporate has made a revenue (PAT) of Rs.10 crores. Additionally, within the subsequent 5 years, the corporate expects a CAGR progress of 18% CAGR.
Let’s use this hypothetical instance to justify the IPO worth of this share.
- P/E Ratio: The present PAT of the corporate is Rs.10 crores. The variety of shares being issued is one crore numbers. Therefore, EPS shall be Rs. 10 per share. If the corporate will get listed at Rs.150 per share, it means its P/E ratio shall be 15 (150/10). At a PE a number of of 15, the corporate might be mentioned to be moderately priced.
- PEG Ratio: On the present fundamentals, the corporate is predicted to develop its EPS on the price of 18% every year. Assuming the PE of 15 as calculated above, the PEG ratio of this firm is 0.833 (15/18). Because the PEG is lower than one (1), Rs.150 per share worth degree appears to be like undervalued.
Each the metrics, PE and PEG, recommend that even at a premium pricing of Rs.150 per share, the shares look undervalued. One can use this straightforward technique to justify (cross-check) the premium IPO pricing of shares.
#5. Advantages of shares Problem at a premium
There are two distinct advantages of issuing shares at a premium.
- Brief-term profit: The upper the premium, the lesser the variety of shares that must be issued. This implies the promoter’s holdings stay greater.
- Lengthy-term profit: Lesser variety of shares issued means, the dividend per share shall be greater. Present shareholders will get a greater dividend yield.
In different different phrases, the lesser the variety of shares issued, the higher it’s for the promoters and the present shareholders.
Coming again to our instance firm ABC. Suppose, it wants Rs.100 crore for its future enlargement & modernization plans. At a face worth of Rs.2 per share, even issuing the complete one crore variety of shares will assure solely Rs.2 crores. But when it points the shares at Rs.150, issuing solely 66.66% of the licensed shares will guarantee fundraising of a minimum of Rs.100.
What ABC ought to do? Problem its shares at a premium as proven under:

The highlights of the above instance are two:
- First: The corporate can generate the wanted funds.
- Second: Even after the issuance of shares to the general public, the promoters nonetheless maintain about 33.3% shares of the corporate.
#6. Accounting in Stability Sheet
When an organization points its shares at a premium, the fund thus generated are proven within the firm’s stability sheet. Let’s take the instance of ABC to get a greater understanding.
- Face Worth = Rs.2 per share.
- Nos. of shares issued = 67 Lakhs.
- Promoting Worth = Rs.150 per share.

The premium earned upon the gross sales of shares can’t be proven as fairness share capital. Its accounting is completed like this:
- The fairness share capital will present the variety of shares excellent occasions the face worth of every share.
- Safety premium account will present the variety of shares excellent occasions the premium earned for every share.
Instance of Stability Sheet Entry
An organization known as EXAMPLE INC. had a certified capital of Rs.100,00,000. The identical has been divided into 50,00,000 shares of Rs.2 every. The corporate issued 30,000 shares to its Promoters and 50,00,000 shares to the general public at a premium of Rs.10 per share.
The stability sheet entry of the corporate shall be up to date as proven under:
- Complete nos of shares issued = 80,00,000.
- Complete Promoting Worth = Rs.12 per share.
- Complete Fund generated = Rs.9.6 Crore (80,00,000 x 12).
- Face Worth = Rs.2/share.
- Premium = Rs.10/share.

[Note: Paid-up capital should always be less than or equal to the Authorised Capital].
#7. Laws
There are authorized implications in India for issuing shares at a premium. Based on the Corporations Act, 2013, an organization can difficulty shares at a premium provided that it satisfies sure circumstances.
- Financial institution Account: These circumstances embrace having the premium quantity transferred to a separate checking account,
- Data: sustaining correct information of the premium obtained.
- Utilization of Funds: utilizing the premium quantity just for particular functions equivalent to issuing bonus shares, writing off preliminary bills, or offering for the premium on redemption of debentures.
If an organization points shares at a premium with out complying with these circumstances, it might be topic to penalties and authorized motion.
Conclusion
Issuing shares at a premium is a well-liked follow amongst firms to lift capital for his or her enlargement, modernization, funding, or debt reimbursement wants.
For the traders, it’s an funding alternative as the corporate that’s promoting at a premium throughout its IPO may see newer heights.
Nonetheless, it’s also essential to notice that issuing shares at a premium has authorized and accounting implications, for the issuer, that must be fastidiously thought of.
Licensed capital is the utmost quantity of capital that an organization can elevate via the fairness route. It’s a authorized restrict on the most variety of shares that an organization can difficulty to its shareholders.
It additionally gives a framework for the corporate to plan its future capital necessities. The corporate can difficulty new shares sooner or later with out having to undergo the method of amending the Memorandum of Affiliation (MOA)
Whereas there isn’t any particular restrict on the premium quantity that an organization can cost for its shares, the premium have to be justified by the corporate’s monetary place. An over-expensive inventory (IPO) might not discover sufficient traders. So finalizing an optimum IPO is important.
The corporate should additionally get hold of approval from its board of administrators and shareholders for the issuance of shares at a premium.