Rights Issues

What is Rights Issue?

Rights Issue is an invitation to the existing shareholders to purchase the additional shares of the company within a specific period at a discounted price. Unlike IPO, the rights issue is not offered to the general public but only to the existing shareholders in proportion of their existing holdings.

The eligible shareholders can either subscribe for the rights issue partly or fully; or can let the rights lapse by not opting to exercise their rights to purchase the additional shares; or can transfer their rights entitlements to other persons. The transfer of rights to other persons can be done by the trading of rights entitlements on a stock exchange similar to equity shares known as 'renunciation of rights issue'.

The rights issue offers benefits to eligible shareholders as it helps them acquire additional shares at a premium compared to the market price. However, one should study the company's performance before subscribing to the issue as unlike bonus shares, the rights issue comes with a price.