Buckle Up Investors, We’re Talking Premium! π’
Ever heard the buzzword ‘shares issued at a premium’ at the local stock market water cooler and wondered what inter-planetary language your colleagues were speaking? Fear not, brave earthling! By the end of this read, youβll be navigating this term like the Neil Armstrong of finance.
What on Earth is a Share Issued at a Premium, Anyway? π€
Shares issued at a premium are like getting upgraded to first-class on a flight but still paying economy β itβs an up-sell, people! But how does it work? Imagine youβve got a company (congrats!), and you decide to issue shares. The kicker is, these shares are issued at a price above their par value (that old-school term for the nominal or original issue price β think of the brochure seat price, if you’re following the flight analogy). The excess amount is called the premium.
Think of it this way: π©οΈ
Par Value of Share: $1
Issue Price of Share: $5
Premium: $5 - $1 = $4
VoilΓ , youβve got a premium!
The Juju of the Share Premium Account πΌβ¨
Sorry to break your Shakespearean illusion, but the premium amount doesn’t just laze around in the backyard. It’s credited to a fancy account called the Share Premium Account (sounds posh, right?). This account is like a restricted trust fund for companies β largely untouchable (can’t spend it on that gold-plated coffee machine for the office, I’m afraid).
Why Bother Issuing Shares at a Premium? π‘
You may wonder why companies donβt just sell shares at par value. Here’s the lowdown:
- Bragging Rights: Issuing shares at a premium means your company’s brand is hot, like Kim Kardashian’s latest tweet.
- Dilution Prevention: Raises more money without having to flood the market with more shares.
- Sign of Confidence: Investors see it as a good sign that companyβs shares might be way more valuable in the future.
Mermaid Chart to Infuse Some Visual Fun π
Let’s sprinkle a visual example using Mermaid syntax! π
graph LR A[Share Issue Decision] -- Issue Price > Par Value --> B[Premium Achieved] B -- Credit Amount --> C[Share Premium Account]
Fun Formula Time π οΈ
To calculate the premium amount, simply use:
Premium = Issue Price - Par Value
Where:
- Issue Price - Price at which the share is actually issued
- Par Value - The face value (original nominal value) of the share
π§ Test Your Brain Cells with a Quiz!
- What is the premium in a share issued at $10 if the par value is $2?
- a. $8
- b. $12
- c. $2
- d. $0
- Which account does the premium get credited to?
- a. Revenue Account
- b. Expense Account
- c. Share Premium Account
- d. Cash Reserves Account
There’s much more in the wonderful world of shares issued at a premium, but isn’t learning about it now feeling like sipping some fresh coconut water on a Bali beach? π΄ So, until next time, may your investments be ever in your (and your accountant’s) favor! π