There are a number of factors to bear in mind before taking part in such an offer, including why the company needs the capital. It may be because it needs money to grow or is facing challenging conditions; for example, a number of listed companies may need to raise capital due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When capital is raised through a rights issue, existing shareholders are given the right to buy more shares, in proportion to the amount they already own, and often at a discounted price.
There is usually a maximum amount of shares you will have the opportunity to buy, for example one more for every five you own. You don’t have to buy the full amount, though, or any if you choose not to take part.
A key issue with such capital raises is “dilution” – the decrease of an existing shareholder’s percentage ownership in a company. Only in the rare case that all shareholders choose to participate fully in a rights issue, will they all end up retaining the same percentage holding of the company and there will be no dilution – albeit at their own extra expense.
Shareholders can chose to participate in part or not at all. Those who don’t participate will have their percentage holding of the company diluted if the rights issue is successfully completed.
There are two types of rights issues: renounceable and non-renounceable. Renounceable means that, instead of utilising your rights, you can sell them to someone else, who will then be able to purchase your share entitlement. Rights are sometimes listed on the NZX and can be sold like ordinary shares. Non-renounceable means that the right is not transferable, and therefore cannot be sold.
Companies raising capital via a rights offer may send existing shareholders an offer document, or can just make an announcement via the NZX.
What you can expect to be told by the company:
When deciding on any capital raising, company directors are required to act in the best interests of the company. This includes balancing a range of considerations such as its need for capital, and impacts of the offer on existing shareholders, including possible dilution of their holdings.
The most common reasons a company might be raising capital include:
Bear in mind the risks involved in such offers:
Also, think about your overall investment portfolio:
Buying
In its offer document and/or market announcement, the company should provide instructions on how to buy all or part of your entitlement, usually via a form to be completed and sent in, and how to pay.
After the closing date, the company will tell you how many new shares you have been issued.
If the offer cannot be completed because not enough existing shareholders have participated or not enough capital could be raised, the company will typically communicate the alternatives that will be pursued to raise the desired capital, such as extending the offer to new investors.
Selling
In a rights issue that’s renounceable, you may wish to sell all or part of your entitlement of shares. The company should advise when and how you can sell your rights.
Note, if you don’t participate while other shareholders do, your percentage shareholding in the company will decrease.
If not enough existing shareholders take up the rights offer, new investors may then be offered shares.
A placement is a direct offer of shares to mostly larger, institutional investors, individual shareholders, or a combination of both. Existing shareholders do not, by right, get the opportunity to participate. This means their percentage shareholding may be diluted.
Dilution: occurs when a company issues new shares which results in a decrease of an existing shareholder's percentage ownership of that company
Entitlement ratio: the number of new shares you can buy. Usually “pro rata” i.e. a ratio of what you already own, eg “1 for 6” means one extra share for every six you own
Issue price: the price of each additional share on offer
Offer size: the total amount of money the company is trying to raise
Offer discount: how much the market share price has been discounted
Renounceable rights: can be traded separately from the original shares held
Shortfall: where the company fails to sell enough shares under the rights offer
Shortfall offer: where the company re-offers shares that other shareholders haven’t taken up
Underwriting: an institutional investor guarantees that they will buy any shortfall shares that aren’t taken up
VWAP: the volume weighted average price a share has traded at over a given time period, often used as a benchmark to indicate the amount the shares have been discounted.