Share Buyback – Meaning & Upcoming Buyback of Shares

Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 14 Nov 2019
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Share Buyback – Meaning & Upcoming Buyback of Shares

“XYZ company announces a buyback of its shares”. You must have seen or read this headline multiple times in the last couple of years. Especially by companies from the IT or technology industry. According to reports, in the financial year 2018, buyback offers worth Rs. 50,000 crores were made in the Indian markets.

Have you wondered what is share buyback and what are the technicalities involved with it? Or if you should give up your shares during buyback offers? Then read on and get all your queries resolved.

What is share buyback?

  1. Buyback of Shares – Meaning:

      A share buyback is a process through which a listed company uses its money and repurchases its own shares from the market. It is the opposite of an IPO (Initial Public Offer). Stock repurchase is also seen as a way for the company to re-invest in itself. Once        the stock buyback is complete, they are absorbed and cease to exist. There are two ways in which stock buyback can take place:

  • Tender Offer: In this buyback channel, the company offers to buy back a certain number of stock at a quoted price. The buyback is done directly from the shareholders.
  • Open Market: The open market buyback takes place through the secondary market (stock exchange). The resolution (special or board) needs to specify the maximum price for the buyback.


      2. Buyback of Shares – Regulations:

      SEBI has laid down the following guidelines for buyback of shares:

  • It cannot be more than 25% of the total paid-up capital value and free reserves held by the company. It needs to be approved by the shareholders through a special resolution.
  • If the buyback value does not exceed 10% of the total paid-up capital value and free reserves held by the company, it necessitates only a board resolution.


Why do companies offer stock buyback schemes?


1. Surplus cash but lack of investible projects

This is one of the primary reasons behind stock repurchase by companies. Idle cash reserves come with a cost. Matured businesses do not need to invest exorbitantly in research, development or other such aspects. Also, holding on to unused equity funding results in ownership dilution without any good reason. Hence, companies prefer to buy-back their own shares.

2. Tax-efficiencies

Buybacks usually happen at a premium as compared to the market price. Companies prefer this route to reward shareholders rather than paying our dividends due to the tax implications.

Dividends attract 15% DDT (Dividend Distribution Tax) for the companies as well as 10% tax in the hands of shareholders if the dividend income exceeds Rs. 10 Lakhs. Hence, earnings through buyback become more tax efficient for both the parties, even after considering the taxes applicable.

3. Enhanced valuations

Buybacks are associated with enhanced share valuations as a result of an improved PE multiple. Stock repurchase leads to a reduction in the number of outstanding shares and hence, capital base. This, in turn, improves the value of EPS (Earning per Share) as the same amount of dividend is now divided between lesser shareholders. The ROE (Return on Equity) also goes up as the cash assets on the Balance Sheets come down.

4. Signal to the market

Stock buybacks are also used to send indicators to the market. It signals that the company has great confidence in itself. Hence it is ready to repurchase its own shares (mostly at a premium) as it feels that the company is undervalued currently in the market. For instance, when the company management is highly optimistic about the future prospects but the stock price still reflects bearish sentiments based on past performance only.

 In some cases, promoters can also use the buyback channel to tighten their hold on the company. This is especially true when the shareholding is highly diluted or is in the hands of individuals or investors who do not have the best interest of the company in mind.


How to evaluate stock buyback offers?

Now you know what is share buyback and the reasons why companies offer them. But the fundamental question remains – what should be your stance in case of buyback offers? Should you hold your stock or give them up? These pointers can help you take the final decision:

1. Offer Price and buyback quantum

Buybacks are lucrative only when they are offered at a significant premium amount. The offer price must be substantially above the current market price to make it worthwhile for the investor. Also, the quantum of the share repurchase amount should be substantial.

 2. Look at the tax implications

Till recently, shareholders had to pay capital gains tax on their buyback earnings. However, with the introduction of buyback tax for listed companies, investors are now exempted from the same. Companies will now have to pay 20% buyback tax.
This move has been done as the Government observed that more companies were distributing their profits through the buyback channel rather than dividend as the latter attracted DDT (Dividend Distribution Tax).
Note: The buyback tax is not applicable to companies who had announced their buyback schemes prior to 5th July 2019.

3. Promoter Participation

Promoters cannot participate in the buyback process if it is being done through the open market. However, they are allowed in case of tender offer. In case of participation by the promoter, there is usually a positive movement for the stock price in the long-term.

 

 Final Words

Buyback can be rewarding for both parties (company as well as investors). As an investor, it is important for you to understand the implications of each buyback offer and decide wisely. You should keep an eye out for the upcoming buyback of shares in 2019 and corporate news around the same. In case you feel that you are not able to decide on your own, you can always reach out to an expert like IndiaNivesh.

Indiaivesh has been providing excellent financial solutions to investors since the last 11 years. It offers a wide range of products – broking, distribution, equities, strategic investments, investment banking as well as wealth management. With its “client-first” approach, skilled and experienced team members and state-of-the-art research and technological capabilities, you can be rest assured that your financial interests are in safe hands. 


Disclaimer: Investment in securities market / Mutual Funds are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.



PREVIOUS STORY

Share Market Investment – Can I Invest all my Money in Stocks

Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 14 Nov 2019

Very often, you hear people making a fortune by making investments in the share markets and get lured to invest all our savings in it. Without a doubt, share market investments have helped investors grow their wealth and achieve financial goals. Investing in the stock market is essential for long-term wealth creation, as the returns generated by equities in the long-run have consistently outperformed the returns generated by any other asset classes, but investing all your money in share market is neither wise nor advisable. Shares are extremely volatile and carry a high degree of risk. If you are a beginner in the share market and the success stories of others have made you consider shares as an investment option, it is important to understand that there is no quick and easy way to make money in the share market overnight. Investing in the share market wisely requires you to have patience and also an understanding of how the stock market works. Why should you invest in the share market?1. Potentially higher returns which help beat inflation Equity investments have the potential to generate higher returns as compared to other investments in the long-run. One of the biggest challenges in the investment world today is finding investments where returns beat inflation.2. Dividend Income At the end of each financial year, a company declares dividends to be distributed to shareholders in proportion to their holdings, from the profits earned in that year. Thus, apart from long-term capital appreciation, investing in shares entitles you to the dividend income.3. Liquidity The shares are listed on the stock exchange and can be bought and sold through the exchange platform seamlessly. Share market tips for beginners If you are a beginner in the share market, here are few important stock market investment tips for you to help you guide with your investments1. Define your investment objectives Before considering investing in shares, or for that matter any instrument, it is important that you clearly define your investment objective along with the time frame for it. Investments in the stock market have the potential of higher growth in the long-term but are the extreme volatility in the short-run. If you are looking at investing your money for a fairly long time, you will benefit tremendously by investing in shares as compared to other less volatile assets. As stock markets are volatile in nature, investing for short-term investment needs is not advisable. 2. Assess your risk tolerance When it comes to investment decisions, assessing your tolerance to risk is extremely important as it is individual for each investor. Share markets are volatile and your ability to withstand the fluctuations in the market is crucial.  If your tolerance to risk is low, you are likely to get anxious about your investments; you are more likely to make emotional decisions about investments rather than logical decisions. However, once you start gaining more knowledge about stock market investments and also understand volatility, your perception will evolve considerably and allow you to take more analytical decisions. 3. Understand the basics of Share Market Before you start investing in the stock market, it is important for you to have basic understanding of the stock market and the individual securities in the stock market. Getting familiar with financial terms such as P/E ratio, EPS, CAGR, etc. stock selection strategies and stock order type will help in the research and selection process of stocks.4. Pick the right stocks Investing the shares is easy, but being successful with your investments requires effort. Whether you are seasoned investors or a beginner, stock selection plays an important role in determining the success of your investments. You should do proper research and analysis of the stocks that you are looking to invest in. Various aspects such as financial soundness, quality of management, competitor’s performance, the competitive advantage of the company will help you understand the strength of the company. You should invest in fundamentally strong companies for potentially higher returns.  5. Do not let emotions drive your decision The performance of stocks to some extent is driven by market sentiments. If the market sentiment is bearish, it tends to influence the stock price negatively even if the fundamentals of the company are strong. In such situations, long-term investors should not sell their investments just because the market sentiment is negative. Once you invest in the stock market you should not get influenced by short-term price changes of the securities on the account of speculation, rumours and in general the market sentiments.  6. Keep your expectations real All of us want to achieve the best possible returns from our investments. But at the same time, it is equally important to be realistic about the return potential. Even though some stocks have generated over 100% returns for investors in the past, it does not mean that every investment in stocks will fetch you similar returns. The idea of investing in the stock market is to have positive returns on your savings which can beat inflation in the long-run and help you achieve your financial goals with ease.  7. Diversify your portfolio Diversification is extremely important to optimise the returns on your investments. The basic tenet of financial planning is to have a diversified portfolio in different asset classes to achieve your investment objective by not relying on the performance of a single asset class. Even in the case of shares, you should diversify your portfolio in shares of different companies, sectors, and industries to avoid relying on the performance of one sector.  8. Invest only your surplusYour investments in the stock markets can fetch you high returns in the future. However, unlike fixed-income investments such as bonds and FDs, returns from the stock market are not guaranteed. The higher the chances of returns, the higher are the risk involved. Hence, you should only invest the surplus funds you have into the stock market without compromising on the other investments such as your life insurance, health insurance, emergency funds etc.   The final word Shares should be a part of your investments, as they offer huge growth potential, but they can’t be your only form of investment. You need to diversify your portfolio in various asset classes to get maximise your returns and minimise risk for your investments. Your investment objective, risk profile, time horizon all play an important role in ascertaining how much can you and should you invest shares. If you are wondering where to start, then just get in touch with our financial experts from IndiaNivesh to guide you with your investments.Disclaimer: Investment in securities market / Mutual Funds are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

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Index Funds – Investing in Low Cost Index Funds

Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 15 Nov 2019

Mutual funds are the most popular investment avenue among investors. It can be justified from the fact that the mutual fund industry has added a whopping 3 trillion to their asset base in 2018 and the uptrend may continue in the coming years. There are many types of mutual funds available in the market and one of them is Index Funds. They offer an easy, diversified and low-cost way to invest in the stock market. In this article, you will learn about the Index Funds in detail. Let us begin the article by learning what is an index fund? What is an Index Fund? Investors always seek to take advantage of diversifying their portfolio across different asset classes. To do so, index funds are the most popular because they imitate the portfolio of an index like the Sensex or the Nifty. This fund is constructed in such a way that it matches the performance of the financial market index. An investor who has bought an index fund would experience the price moment exactly in sync of the quoted value of the Sensex or Nifty, depending on the fund. Therefore, these funds ensure the performance exactly as the index that is being tracked. One of the main benefits of these funds is its low expense ratio. Let us now learn how does an index fund work? How Does an Index Fund Works? Like mentioned earlier, Index funds basically track the performance of the index such as Nifty. When you purchase this fund, your portfolio will have 50 stocks in the same proportion that comprise in the Nifty. Therefore, an index represents a group of securities of a market segment. In India, the most popular Indices are NSE Nifty and BSE Sensex. The index funds are not actively managed funds because they replicate an index. In actively managed funds, the fund managers keep on looking for opportunities by researching and selecting new stocks. But in index funds, the managers just maintain the composition of an underlying benchmark. In the case of actively managed funds, the aim is to beat its benchmark while in the case of index funds, the managers try to match the performance of the portfolio with that of the index. Even though the fund managers try their best to match the performance of index fund returns with their portfolio but still there can be some small difference. The index fund managers try to bring down the tracking errors so as to match the index fund returns with the portfolio returns. Now coming to the most important question that who must invest in the low cost index funds. In this section, we will discuss the same. Who Can Invest in Low Cost Index Funds? If you want a predictable set of returns and do not want to take much risk, these low cost index funds are ideal for you. These funds will give you same set of returns as a particular index would. Also, if you want to keep yourself associated with equity funds but not with those funds that are actively managed and bear some risk, these funds are good for you to invest. Therefore, the first thing to consider while investing in the low cost index funds is determining your financial goals and the amount of risk you are willing to take. In the long run, the performance of the index funds is very good. Let us now learn how you can invest in the index funds? How to Invest in Index Funds Investing in Index Funds is very easy with IndiaNivesh Ltd. Just follow the below mentioned steps to invest in the index funds; Visit the website - https://www.indianivesh.in/ and sign in. Fill the amount and period of your investment. Complete the hassle-free KYC process. You can now invest in your preferred index fund amongst the many options available. Before you invest in index funds, there are a few things that you must consider. Let us see what they are. Things to Consider Before Investing in Index Funds Risk Appetite It is always advisable to mix and diversify your investments. Index funds are perfect for those who want to take fewer risks. You can reap higher benefits in these funds when the market is in bull mode. When the market enters the bearish mode, you may consider entering actively managed funds.  Returns Index funds aim to replicate the performance of the underlying benchmark. If you are looking for decent returns in the long run, you can invest in the index funds. It is advisable to invest in those index funds that have minimum tracking error. Cost Of Investment The main benefit of investing in index funds is the lower expense ratio. The expense ratio of index funds is 0.5% or less while the expense ratio of actively managed funds is 1% to 2.5%. The funds with lower expense ratios always generate higher returns.  Financial Objectives If you are looking to invest for your retirement or want to create long term wealth then index funds are ideal for you. These funds can generate good returns in the long run which would be of great assistance in your life after retirement. Period of Investment Index funds are known to give better returns over a long term of period. You must have the patience to stick to these funds and avoid taking any decision on the basis of short term fluctuations. Taxation On redemption of the index funds, the capital gains are taxable. Your holding period determines the rate of taxation. If the holding period is less than a year, the short term capital gains are taxable at 15%. And if the holding period is more than one year, the long term capital gains over Rs. 1 lakh is taxable at 10% with no benefit of indexation. The above mentioned are the things that you must consider before investing in the best index funds available in the market. If you looking to invest in best index funds and need any assistance you can contact IndiaNivesh Ltd.Disclaimer: Investment in securities market / Mutual Funds are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

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  • SIP vs. RD - Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) Vs Recurring Deposit (RD)
    Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 18 Oct 2019

    Financial planning plays an important role in today’s time. For your money to grow into wealth, it is required that you invest it in good avenues. Many individuals set aside a fixed amount every month for investment purpose. The two most popular investment avenues for investing a fixed sum of money every month are Systematic Investment Program (SIP) in Mutual Funds and Recurring Deposits (RD). In this article, you will learn about the difference between RD and SIP. Let us begin by learning the meaning of the two terms. What is SIP? Systematic Investment Plan or SIP is an investment scheme where you can invest a fixed sum of money on a monthly or quarterly basis. It is a disciplined approach of investing your money because you set aside a fixed amount of money for investment purposes. You can start SIP by selecting a mutual fund scheme. The best part of SIP is that you can start it with an amount as low as Rs. 500. Let us now learn the meaning of recurring deposit. 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Now the next important question that would arise in your mind is, SIP or RD which is better? Well, the answer to it is very subjective and will vary from person to person. Both the investment schemes are very different from each other and have their own benefits. Depending upon your risk appetite and tenure of the investment, you can select the right scheme for you. You can also refer to the difference between the two schemes and understand which investment option is ideal for you. The beginners or inexperienced investors often find it difficult to take the investment decisions on their own. To assist them in financial planning, IndiaNivesh Ltd. is always at their assistance. We understand your financial goals and risk appetite before suggesting you any investment plan or scheme. We provide our clients with innovative and customised financial solutions. Our aim is to exceed the expectation of client in all our endeavours. You can even open a demat account with us and trade or invest in the stock market on the basis of our regular research reports.Disclaimer: Investment in securities market / Mutual Funds are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

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  • Gold Exchange Traded Funds (Gold ETFs) - Overview & how to invest in it
    Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 16 Oct 2019

    Gold Exchange Traded Funds (or Gold ETFs) combine the two passions of many investors – stock trading and gold investments. They provide a channel through which you can be a part of the bullion (gold) market. The investor’s funds are invested in gold stocks but there is no physical delivery of the yellow metal. They are often referred to as open-ended Mutual Funds that invest the corpus in gold bullion. Key highlights of Gold ETFs: Gold ETFs in India started in the year 2007. Slowly but steadily they have started gaining momentum. Some of the key benefits offered by Gold Exchange Traded Funds are:1. Transparency: Transparent pricing is one of the USPs of Gold ETF. Like stock prices, information about gold prices are easily available to the general public. You can easily determine the value of their portfolio by checking the gold prices for that time or day.2. Ease of trade: Just like shares, Gold ETFs can be easily traded on the stock exchange. 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  • SIP Investment - Why Should You Increase Your SIP Every Year
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    Whenever people begin their investment journey, they secretly wish to become millionaires, almost overnight. However, to effectively create wealth you need years of consistent investing at a gradual pace. Investments need time and also a boost from time to time to grow. Mutual funds are an effective investment tool to build a corpus. When it comes to investing in mutual funds, Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) are a convenient option. In this article, we look at SIP investments and how increasing your online SIP investment every year can be beneficial to you.What Are SIP Investments? Many investors think of SIPs and mutual fund schemes as synonyms, however, that is not the case. SIPs are merely tools that allow you to invest in a mutual fund scheme over a period of time. It can be monthly, quarterly or semi-annually depending on your financial goals. It acts as a convenient option for salaried individuals to regularly invest in mutual funds. 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Hence, if you do not increase your SIP investment amount every year, you ignore inflation which erodes the purchasing power of your hard-earned money. • Achieve Your Financial Goals FasterSuppose you start a SIP investment plan of Rs. 5,000 per month. Assume an annual return rate of 12%. After 10 years, your corpus would grow to be Rs. 11.6 lakhs. However, if you decided to increase your SIP contributions by 10% every year, after 10 years your corpus would grow to be Rs. 16.8 lakhs. That is a difference of over Rs. 5 lakhs. As the years multiply, the difference would be a lot more.How To Increase Your Online SIP Investment? Here are three simple ways by which you can increase your online SIP investment.• Select The Right SchemeIf you are interested in SIP investment plans that allow step-up option where you can enhance the amount regularly, ensure that it matches your risk profile. For example, if you are an aggressive investor, you can opt for a mid-cap equity fund. Or, if you are a conservative investor, you can look at balanced funds. • Determine The FrequencyYou can choose the frequency and the amount by which you want to increase your SIPs. It can be semi-annual or annual. An appraisal or bonus is the best time to start increasing your SIPs. It is always a wise decision to align your additional earnings to existing financial goals. • Identify Your Investment CapYou can decide to put a cap on the maximum amount of money you wish to invest every month in SIPs. When you choose this option, your SIPs can keep increasing till they hit the ceiling amount set by you. Once this maximum limit has been hit, the SIP then acts as a regular SIP with the same investment amount every month. SIPs allow you to invest periodically and help your wealth grow. You can achieve your long-term financial goals with regular small investments and gradually increase your SIPs every year to achieve your financial goals sooner. You can either increase your SIPs by a fixed amount or a certain percentage, depending upon your financial goals. You may contact IndiaNivesh Ltd. if you wish to start a SIP investment plan. We can help you choose the right mutual fund schemes based on your financial goals, risk tolerance and investment horizon. Disclaimer: Investment in securities market / Mutual Funds are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

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