Why preference shares are also referred as hybrid securities .Brieflydiscuss it different types.
Kalyan,
Hybrid refers to a thing which is made up of two or more elements. In other words, it refers to a thing that has the characteristics of two or more elements.
Preference shares are called hybrid shares because they carry the characteristics of both debt and equity. Like debt, preference shares carry a fixed rate of return. Like equity shares, the holders of preference shares receive dividend only if anything is left after paying the debt holders.
Types of Preference Shares
The different types of Preference Shares are explained below.
1. On the basis of Dividend:
a) Cumulative Preference Shares
When a preference shareholder has a right to recover any arrears of dividend, before any dividend is paid to the equity shareholders, then the type of Preference Shares held by the shareholder is known as Cumulative Preference Shares. All Preference Shares are cumulative unless otherwise expressly stated to be non cumulative.
b) Non Cumulative Preference Share
When a preference shareholder receives dividend only in case of profit and is not entitled any right to recover the arrears of dividend, then the type of Preference Shares held by the shareholder is known as Non Cumulative Preference Shares.
2. On the basis of Participation:
a) Participating Preference Share
When a preference shareholder enjoys the right to participate in the surplus profit (in addition to the fixed rate of dividend) that is left after the payment of dividend to the equity shareholders, the type of shares held by the shareholder is known as Participating Preference Share.
b) Non participating Preference Share
When a preference shareholder receives only a fixed rate of dividend every year and do not enjoy the additional participation in the surplus profit, then the type of shares held by the shareholder is known as Non Participating Preference Shares.
It must be noted that all Preference Shares are non-participating until and unless expressly stated.
3. On the basis of Redemption:
a) Redeemable preference share
When a preference shareholder is repaid by the company after a certain specified period in accordance with the term specified in the Section 80 of Company Act of 1956, then the type of the shares held by him/her is known as Redeemable Preference Shares.
b) Non Redeemable Preference share
These shares are not repaid by the company during its lifetime. As per the Section 80A of the Company Act of 1956, no company can issue Non Redeemable Preference Shares. It is merely a theoretical concept.
4. On the basis of Convertibility:
a) Convertible Preference Share
The shareholders holding Convertible Preference Shares have a right to convert his/her shares into equity shares.
b) Non Convertible Preference Share
Unlike Convertible Preference Shares, the shareholders holding Non Convertible Preference Shares do not enjoy the right to convert their shares into equity shares.
Hybrid refers to a thing which is made up of two or more elements. In other words, it refers to a thing that has the characteristics of two or more elements.
Preference shares are called hybrid shares because they carry the characteristics of both debt and equity. Like debt, preference shares carry a fixed rate of return. Like equity shares, the holders of preference shares receive dividend only if anything is left after paying the debt holders.
Types of Preference Shares
The different types of Preference Shares are explained below.
1. On the basis of Dividend:
a) Cumulative Preference Shares
When a preference shareholder has a right to recover any arrears of dividend, before any dividend is paid to the equity shareholders, then the type of Preference Shares held by the shareholder is known as Cumulative Preference Shares. All Preference Shares are cumulative unless otherwise expressly stated to be non cumulative.
b) Non Cumulative Preference Share
When a preference shareholder receives dividend only in case of profit and is not entitled any right to recover the arrears of dividend, then the type of Preference Shares held by the shareholder is known as Non Cumulative Preference Shares.
2. On the basis of Participation:
a) Participating Preference Share
When a preference shareholder enjoys the right to participate in the surplus profit (in addition to the fixed rate of dividend) that is left after the payment of dividend to the equity shareholders, the type of shares held by the shareholder is known as Participating Preference Share.
b) Non participating Preference Share
When a preference shareholder receives only a fixed rate of dividend every year and do not enjoy the additional participation in the surplus profit, then the type of shares held by the shareholder is known as Non Participating Preference Shares.
It must be noted that all Preference Shares are non-participating until and unless expressly stated.
3. On the basis of Redemption:
a) Redeemable preference share
When a preference shareholder is repaid by the company after a certain specified period in accordance with the term specified in the Section 80 of Company Act of 1956, then the type of the shares held by him/her is known as Redeemable Preference Shares.
b) Non Redeemable Preference share
These shares are not repaid by the company during its lifetime. As per the Section 80A of the Company Act of 1956, no company can issue Non Redeemable Preference Shares. It is merely a theoretical concept.
4. On the basis of Convertibility:
a) Convertible Preference Share
The shareholders holding Convertible Preference Shares have a right to convert his/her shares into equity shares.
b) Non Convertible Preference Share
Unlike Convertible Preference Shares, the shareholders holding Non Convertible Preference Shares do not enjoy the right to convert their shares into equity shares.