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Microlesson · 5-min read

Buy Back of Shares — Capital Redemption Reserve (CRR) Calculation

## Capital Redemption Reserve (CRR) Calculation

When a company buys back its own shares using free reserves, it must transfer an amount equal to the nominal (face) value of the shares bought back to the Capital Redemption Reserve (CRR).

This ensures the company's permanent capital base is not permanently eroded.

---

### Why a Simultaneous Equation is Needed

In Test 3 (D:E Ratio), you need to find the maximum buyback amount. The problem is that:

  • Funding the buyback from free reserves → reduces equity
  • Transferring to CRR also reduces free reserves → reduces equity
  • Both happen at the same time, so you cannot compute one without the other

---

### Setting Up the Equations

Let x = amount transferred to CRR (₹)

Let y = maximum buyback amount available from free reserves (₹)

Equation 1 — equity constraint:

```

Present Equity − x − y = Minimum Equity post-buyback

```

Equation 2 — ratio of y to x equals ratio of BB Price to FV:

```

y / x = BB Price / Face Value

```

Because for each share: you pay BB Price (this is y/n) and set aside FV for CRR (this is x/n).

---

### Solving the System

Substitute Eq 2 into Eq 1:

```

Present Equity − x − (BB Price/FV)·x = Min Equity

Gap × FV / (BB Price + FV) = x ← CRR

Gap × BB Price / (BB Price + FV) = y ← BB Amount

```

where Gap = Present Equity − Minimum Equity

---

### Shortcut Formula

> Max Shares = Gap ÷ (BB Price + FV)

Then directly:

  • CRR = Max Shares × FV
  • BB Amount = Max Shares × BB Price
  • Verify: BB Amount + CRR = Gap ✓

Intuition: Each share bought back "consumes" (BB Price + FV) rupees from the equity gap — BB Price flows to the shareholder, FV flows into CRR. The gap is divided exactly in the ratio BB Price : FV.

---

### Effect of Securities Premium Covering the Premium

If the premium on buyback is funded from Securities Premium:

  • Securities Premium absorbs the premium portion → free reserves are only used for the FV portion
  • CRR transfer = FV × n (unchanged) — it is always the full nominal value of shares bought back
  • The simultaneous equation approach is not needed in this case; CRR = FV × actual shares bought back

Worked example

### Example 1

Simultaneous Equation Method

Given: Present Equity = ₹31,25,000; Min Equity post-BB = ₹22,62,500; BB Price = ₹20; FV = ₹10.

Let x = CRR transfer, y = max BB amount

Eq 1: 31,25,000 − x − y = 22,62,500 → x + y = 8,62,500

Eq 2: y = (20/10) × x = 2x

Substitute: x + 2x = 8,62,500

→ 3x = 8,62,500

x = ₹2,87,500 (CRR)

→ y = 2 × 2,87,500 = ₹5,75,000 (Max BB amount)

→ Max shares = 5,75,000 ÷ 20 = 28,750 shares

Company decides to buy back only 25,000 shares — valid since 25,000 < 28,750 ✓

### Example 2

Shortcut Method (Q013 — D:E Test)

Present Equity = ₹1,16,00,000; Min Equity = ₹60,00,000; BB Price = ₹25; FV = ₹10.

Gap = ₹1,16,00,000 − ₹60,00,000 = ₹56,00,000

Denominator = BB Price + FV = 25 + 10 = 35

Max shares = ₹56,00,000 ÷ ₹35 = 1,60,000 shares

CRR = 1,60,000 × ₹10 = ₹16,00,000

BB Amount = 1,60,000 × ₹25 = ₹40,00,000

Verify: ₹40,00,000 + ₹16,00,000 = ₹56,00,000 = Gap ✓

Post-BB Equity = ₹1,16,00,000 − ₹16,00,000 − ₹40,00,000 = ₹60,00,000 = Min equity ✓

### Example 3

Shortcut Method (Q014, Case II — ₹ in crores)

Present Equity = ₹750 cr; Min Equity = ₹600 cr; BB Price = ₹30; FV = ₹10.

Gap = 750 − 600 = ₹150 cr

Denominator = 30 + 10 = 40

Max shares = 150 ÷ 40 = 3.75 crore shares

CRR = 3.75 × 10 = ₹37.5 cr

BB Amount = 3.75 × 30 = ₹112.5 cr

Verify: 112.5 + 37.5 = 150 ✓

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Inverting the ratio in Equation 2: writing y/x = FV/BB Price instead of BB Price/FV — remember y (BB amount) is the larger number since BB Price > FV
  • Forgetting to include the CRR transfer (x) in Equation 1 — both x and y reduce equity simultaneously
  • Using just BB Price as the shortcut denominator instead of (BB Price + FV)
  • Applying the simultaneous equation to find CRR when the actual (smaller) buyback is given — CRR for actual shares is simply FV × actual number bought back
  • Treating CRR as optional when Securities Premium covers the premium — CRR is always mandatory for the full nominal value of shares bought back, regardless of premium funding source
Bare-Act text Section 69(1) · Companies Act, 2013 · click to expand
Where a company purchases its own shares out of free reserves or securities premium account, a sum equal to the nominal value of the shares so purchased shall be transferred to the Capital Redemption Reserve Account and details of such transfer shall be disclosed in the balance sheet.
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