Issue of Shares — Secretarial Practice STD 12 Commerce / Arts — Question

• Bonus Shares are fully paid shares issued free of cost to the existing equity shareholders.
• According to Companies Act 2013, every company has to follow certain provisions to issue Bonus Shares.

Following are the provisions related to Bonus Issue-

• A company can issue Bonus Shares only out of
  • Free reserves or
  • Securities Premium Account
  • Capital Redemption Reserve Account
• A company cannot issue Bonus Shares only out of Reserves credited by the Revaluation of Assets.
• It also cannot issue Bonus Shares instead of paying dividend.
• Once the announcement for Bonus Shares is made by the Board of Directors, it cannot be then withdrawn.
• Bonus shares are fully paid up shares.
• Shareholders cannot renounce i.e give away their Bonus Shares to another person.
• There is no minimum subscription to be collected.