Securities premium cannot be used as working capital. According to Section 52 (2) of the Companies Act, 2013, the securities premium can be applied only for the following purposes: (i) Issuing fully paid bonus shares to the members. (ii) Writing-off the preliminary expenses of the company.
A share premium account can be used to write off certain expenses, such as the cost of underwriting, commissions paid, and certain discounts. The accounts can also be used to issue bonus shares.
writing off discount or commission paid on issue of shares and debentures.
Answer: Hence, securities premium cannot be used as a source to declare a dividend. The Companies Act allows bonus shares to be issued from the securities premium. However, the issue should be authorised by the members of the company.
A company may also decide to redeem its preference shares, through “proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purposes of such redemption”. … Further, Section 52(2)(d) of the Act, prescribes that the amount underlying in the Security Premium Account could be utilised for redemption of Preference Shares at premium.
The share premium account is a reserve that cannot be distributed. A company can use the balance of the account only for purposes that have been established in its bylaws. In most cases, a company cannot use the account to pay out dividends to shareholders or to offset operating losses.
Writing off of Accumulated Losses does not form part of any of the aforesaid purposes. Revaluation reserves should be adjusted only to write off the revalued value of the asset over the useful life. Hence even that is not permitted.
Share premium: Though , as per definition of ‘free reserves’ , share premium is not ‘free reserve’ because dividend cannot be declared out of share premium. However, ‘share premium’ is considered just like free reserves for many of purposes as per specific provisions.
Share premium is capital receipt and contributed as such by the shareholders. The amount of premium is neither ‘profit’ nor ‘gain’ of the company, it is capital receipt to be accounted for as share premium. This amount cannot be credited in the profit and loss account of the company.
‘Securities Premium Reserve’ cannot be used as working capital. It can be used only for those purposes which are specified under section 52 of Companies Act, 2013.
A company issues its shares at a premium when the price at which it sells the shares is higher than their par value. This is quite common, since the par value is typically set at a minimal value, such as $0.01 per share. The amount of the premium is the difference between the par value and the selling price.
Therefore, When a company issues shares at a premium, the premium amount will be received by it along with application money, allotment money, or calls.
A Company may issue Bonus Shares out of- its free reserves; Securities Premium Account; Capital Redemption Reserve Account. Further, it has been provided that Issue of Bonus Shares shall not be made out of Capitalising Reserves created out of revaluation of Reserves.