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Microlesson · 5-min read

AS 13 – Right Shares: Subscribe vs Renounce and Interim Dividend Treatment

## Right Shares — Subscribe vs Renounce (AS 13)

### What Are Right Shares?

When a company raises fresh equity, existing shareholders are given the right to subscribe to new shares at a preferential price (below market value) — proportionate to their existing holding.

### Two Choices for the Investor

ActionMeaningAccounting Treatment
SubscribePay the issue price and acquire more sharesAdd subscription price to cost of investment
RenounceSell the right to someone else (earn a premium)Proceeds credited to Profit & Loss A/c

### Why Renouncement Proceeds Go to P&L?

The right arose without any cost to the investor — it is an entitlement attached to existing shares. When sold, the sale proceeds represent income, not a return of capital. Therefore, the cost of the original investment is not reduced.

### Subscribe — Journal Entry

```

Investment in Equity Shares A/c Dr. [Subscription price × Shares subscribed]

To Bank A/c

```

### Renounce — Journal Entry

```

Bank A/c Dr. [Proceeds]

To Profit & Loss A/c

```

> No entry in the Investment ledger for the right itself — the right is never capitalised.

### Interim Dividend Treatment (AS 13)

Dividend declared after the date of investment is credited to P&L (not deducted from cost). The investment ledger shows the dividend as a credit, with a corresponding debit to P&L via a transfer entry.

```

Bank A/c Dr. [Dividend received]

To Investment in Equity Shares A/c

Investment in Equity Shares A/c Dr.

To Profit & Loss A/c

```

(Or directly: Bank Dr. / P&L Cr. — the ledger transfer makes both visible)

Worked example

### Example 1

## Q32 — Right Shares: Subscribe + Renounce

Background:

  • 6,000 equity shares purchased on 10/07/20 at ₹44 + 2% brokerage
  • Cost = 6,000 × ₹44 × 1.02 = ₹2,69,280
  • 18/01/21 — Interim dividend: 6,000 shares × ₹1.80 = ₹10,800 received
  • 15/03/21 — Right issue: for every 4 existing shares, 1 new share offered
  • Rights available = 6,000 ÷ 4 = 1,500 rights
  • 40% subscribed (600 shares) at ₹5 per share
  • 60% renounced (900 rights) at ₹2.25 per right

---

Working Note 1 — Subscribe 600 shares

```

Cost added = 600 × ₹5 = ₹3,000

```

Journal:

```

Investment in Equity Shares A/c Dr. 3,000

To Bank A/c 3,000

```

Working Note 2 — Renounce 900 rights

```

Proceeds = 900 × ₹2.25 = ₹2,025 → credited to P&L

No change to investment cost

```

Journal:

```

Bank A/c Dr. 2,025

To Profit & Loss A/c 2,025

```

Working Note 3 — Interim Dividend (18/01/21)

```

Dividend = 6,000 × ₹1.80 = ₹10,800 → income (P&L)

```

Investment in Equity Shares A/c

DateParticularsNo.DivAmountDateParticularsNo.DivAmount
10/07/20To Bank (Purchase)6,0002,69,28018/01/21By Bank (Div)10,800
15/03/21To Bank (Rights)6003,00031/03/21By Balance c/d6,6002,72,280
31/03/21To P&L (Div trf.)10,800

Summary at year end (31/03/21):

  • Shares held: 6,600 (6,000 original + 600 subscribed)
  • Total cost: ₹2,69,280 + ₹3,000 = ₹2,72,280
  • Renouncement profit ₹2,025 → P&L (not in investment ledger)

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Crediting renouncement proceeds to reduce the investment cost instead of P&L — the right arose at zero cost so proceeds are entirely income.
  • Capitalising the right in the investment ledger (debiting a 'Rights A/c') — rights are never separately capitalised under AS 13.
  • Confusing the ratio direction: if the right is 4:1 (4 existing → 1 new), then 6,000 shares generate 1,500 rights — not 6,000 × 4.
  • Treating interim dividend as a reduction in investment cost — under AS 13, dividends declared after the investment date are income (P&L), not cost recovery.
  • Adding the brokerage on purchase directly to P&L as expense instead of including it in the cost of investment — AS 13 Para 22 requires brokerage to be capitalised.
Bare-Act text Para 16 – Right Shares · AS 13 – Accounting for Investments (ICAI) · click to expand
If rights shares are subscribed for, the cost of the additional shares is added to the cost of investment. If the rights are not taken up but are sold, the sale proceeds should be credited to the profit and loss statement.
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