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Investing in fractional shares allows investors to own less than a full share of a stock, has become popular in many markets around the world. However, in India, the practice of buying, selling, or trading fractional shares is not permitted under the current regulatory framework. However, the Company Law Committee in its March 2022 report recommended enabling the issuance, possession, and transfer of fractional shares in dematerialized form for a prescribed class of companies. The Committee proposed amending the Companies Act, 2013, ("the Act") to allow fractional share investing, considering the increasing participation of retail shareholders in the market. The Indian financial market operates under strict government supervision, notably limiting DEMAT account operations, which are confined to the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) and the Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL), with brokers serving merely as intermediaries. The Committee, in its report, also examined the concept of issuance and retention of fractional shares but noted the existing prohibition under Section 4(1)(e)(i) of the Act which mandates that subscribers to the memorandum of association must agree to subscribe to at least one share and paragraph four of Table F in Schedule I prohibiting the possession of fractional shares. Acknowledging the utility of fractional shares in mergers, bonus issues, or rights issues, the Committee proposed amendments to the 2013 Act to enable the issuance, retention, and transfer of fractional shares for specific company categories under prescribed regulations. But what are the benefits of Fractional Share Investments? - Dividend Reinvestment: Introduction of fractional shares enables brokerage firms to facilitate wealth compounding through dividend reinvestment options. - Accessibility: Fractional shares diminish financial barriers, allowing broader participation in the stock market, which enhances the potential for significant investment returns. - Investment Strategy Enhancement: The adoption of dollar-cost averaging, through regular investment irrespective of market conditions, mitigates risks associated with market volatility, optimizing investment across diverse market cycles. Despite the benefits, there are certain challenges associated as well: - Voting Rights: Empirical analysis indicates a potential dilution of shareholder influence in corporate governance, with brokers potentially commanding disproportionate voting power in decision-making processes. - Stock Availability: The availability of fractional shares may be limited to certain companies, potentially undermining investment diversification objectives. - Market Liquidity: Fractional shares may exhibit reduced liquidity relative to whole shares. Brokerage practices could intensify this issue by accumulating sufficient fractional units prior to order execution, which could affect the trading velocity and market dynamics of the shares. #companylaw

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