Record ordinary-share, rights and bonus issues
Post cash share issues at par or at a premium, distinguish a rights issue from a bonus issue, and keep cash and reserves accurate.
Exam scope and assessment notes
Cambridge International AS & A Level Accounting 9706, 2026–2028 syllabus, Version 2. These original lessons cover objective 1.5.4: ordinary shares, rights and bonus issues, debentures, dividends, reserves, company statements and finance choices. Preference shares are excluded by the syllabus. The statement formats follow Cambridge Teacher Guidance for 9706 Accounting (examination from 2023). Practice is self-checked, not an official Cambridge grade; full timed-paper practice and human subject-teacher review remain outstanding.
Before you begin
- Use Topics 1.2 and 1.5.1–1.5.3 to interpret double entries, period adjustments and the difference between business profit and an owners’ distribution.
Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.
Quick readiness check
A bonus issue transfers reserve balances into share capital. Does it create new cash for the company?
What you will learn
- Record ordinary-share issues at par and at a premium
- Calculate and record a rights issue
- Record a bonus issue without inventing a cash inflow
Separate nominal share capital from premium
For an issue of ordinary shares for cash, debit bank with the proceeds. Credit share capital with the nominal value of the new shares and credit share premium with any excess over nominal value. At par, there is no share-premium credit. Share premium is a capital reserve, not sales revenue or profit.
A rights issue offers new shares to existing shareholders, usually in a stated proportion and at a stated price. Calculate the number offered from the existing share count, then split the cash proceeds between share capital at nominal value and share premium for any excess.
A bonus issue changes equity but raises no cash
A bonus issue transfers an amount from a reserve to share capital and issues shares to existing shareholders. It increases share capital and reduces the reserve used, but does not increase total equity or bring cash into the company.
Use the reserve and accounting entries specified by the question. For a bonus issue in this syllabus, do not use the revaluation reserve. Do not describe a bonus issue as a source of new cash finance.
Pause and explain
A rights issue sells 3,000 $2 nominal shares for $2.50 each. What amount is credited to share premium?
Worked example
A company issues 20,000 ordinary shares of $1 nominal value for $1.40 each. It also offers one new $1 share for every four existing shares; 20,000 shares currently exist and the rights price is $1.50. Calculate each issue’s proceeds, share capital and premium.
Show the worked solution
- New cash issue: proceeds = 20,000 × $1.40 = $28,000.
- Credit share capital $20,000 and share premium $8,000; debit bank $28,000.
- Rights issue: 20,000 ÷ 4 = 5,000 shares; proceeds = 5,000 × $1.50 = $7,500.
- Credit share capital $5,000 and share premium $2,500; debit bank $7,500.
Answer The first issue raises $28,000, split into $20,000 share capital and $8,000 share premium. The rights issue raises $7,500, split into $5,000 share capital and $2,500 share premium.
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Test this topic →From guided practice to a new situation
Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.
A company has 30,000 ordinary shares in issue and makes a one-for-five bonus issue of $1 shares. It uses an eligible reserve other than the revaluation reserve. Calculate the new shares and describe the entry and cash effect.
Give me a hint
Divide existing shares by five; transfer nominal value from reserve to share capital.
Compare my reasoning
- New shares = 30,000 ÷ 5 = 6,000.
- Debit the eligible reserve and credit share capital by $6,000.
- No cash is received; total equity is unchanged by the transfer.
Issue 6,000 bonus shares. Debit the eligible reserve and credit share capital by $6,000. Cash and total equity do not increase.
Look for these in your work
- Share count correct
- Reserve transfer correct
- No cash or total-equity increase
A company issues 12,000 $0.50 ordinary shares for $0.80 each. Calculate proceeds, share-capital credit and share-premium credit, then identify the account debited.
Give me a hint
Apply the nominal amount and premium per share separately.
Compare my reasoning
- Proceeds = 12,000 × $0.80 = $9,600.
- Share capital = 12,000 × $0.50 = $6,000; premium = 12,000 × $0.30 = $3,600.
- Debit bank $9,600.
Debit bank $9,600; credit share capital $6,000 and share premium $3,600.
Look for these in your work
- Cash proceeds correct
- Nominal capital correct
- Premium and debit correct
A director says a bonus issue will pay for new equipment because it increases the number of shares. Explain why the proposal confuses a share-count change with finance and name two actual funding directions to compare.
Give me a hint
Ask whether the transaction brings new cash into the bank.
Compare my reasoning
- A bonus issue transfers an existing reserve to share capital and brings no new cash.
- A cash share issue or rights issue can raise cash, subject to investor participation and dilution considerations.
- A loan or debenture may provide funds but creates interest and repayment obligations.
A bonus issue cannot pay for equipment because it creates no cash. Compare a cash share issue or rights issue with borrowing such as a loan or debenture, considering control, interest, repayment and affordability.
Look for these in your work
- No cash from bonus issue identified
- Cash equity alternative named
- Borrowing alternative and trade-off named
Common mistakes
- Crediting all issue proceeds to share capital when shares are issued at a premium
- Treating share premium as revenue
- Recording a bonus issue as a cash inflow or using the revaluation reserve for it
What can you explain now?
A company issues 4,000 $1 shares for $1.25 each. What is the share-premium credit?
Compare with the explanation
$1,000
The premium per share is $0.25, so 4,000 × $0.25 = $1,000.
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Make it stick
For a cash share issue above nominal value, state the bank, share-capital and share-premium entries; then explain the different cash effect of a bonus issue.
If you needed the solution, close it and solve the problem again from a blank page. A correct answer is stronger when you can explain the reason for each step.