Difference  between Preference and Ordinary shares

2 minute read

 

The majority of businesses that are incorporated in Singapore are private companies limited by shares. This means each shareholder of the company owns a certain portion or percentage of the company expressed by the number of shares held in the capital of the company. In Singapore, all the information related to shares must be updated to ACRA.

Overview:

Classes of shares

Shares consist of rights and obligations which vary between different classes of shareholders. The law in Singapore is quite flexible on creating share classes, there are no restrictions on type of issued shares. The two main classes of shares are Ordinary share(s) and Preference share(s). They differ from one another based on the benefits and rights attached to the share(s). Find out more about the differences between these two share classes below.

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares are the main type of share(s) among private limited Companies. In such companies, all shareholders will have the same rights. The holder(s) of ordinary share(s) are generally entitled to:-

(1) Attend Annual General Meetings and vote: Ordinary shareholders can participate in internal corporate governance through attending annual meetings and voting. They are allowed to vote on important matters such as appointment of directors. They can have one vote per share subject to the Company’s Constitution;

(2) Share in Company’s profits: Shareholders can receive dividends if the Company has made profits and decided to distribute them;

(3) Have a distribution on winding up: If the Company is wound up, shareholders are entitled to any remaining assets of the Company after all its debts are cleared;

(4) Limited liability: Shareholders are protected against the financial obligations of the Company and are only liable for the value of their shares.

Disadvantages of the Ordinary Shares

(1) Priority distribution of dividends: Priority would be given to Preference shareholders when the dividends are distributed;

(2) No guaranteed right to receive dividends: The company can make a decision not to distribute the dividends depending upon the situation.

Preference shares

Preference shares commonly gives benefit or preferential rights to the holder(s) over and above the rights of Ordinary shareholders. Those rights and benefits to the Preference share(s) will vary from Company to Company and should be set out in the Company’s Constitution in accordance with the Singapore Companies Act. Most Preference shares provide their holders with:-

(1) fixed or preferential rights to a dividend;

(2) priority claims on the assets upon liquidation of the Company;

(3) redeemable shares: the Company may “buy back” the Preference shares from the holder at a fixed price; or

(4) convertible shares: the holder can exchange Preference shares for other capital instruments (such as convertible notes) issued by the Company.

Disadvantages of Preference Shares

(1) No voting rights: Preference shareholders do not have the general right to vote at meetings;

(2) Higher dividends: Preference shares carry a higher rate of dividend than the interest of debentures.

Do preference shares affect taxes? Are they also treated like ordinary shares?

Preference shares do not affect taxes. They are treated similarly to ordinary shares.

Overview: Preference shares vs Ordinary shares

 Preference SharesOrdinary Shares
DefinitionPreference shares are superior to ordinary shares. It’s issued by companies to raise capital with a dividend option for shareholdersOrdinary shares are issued by companies to raise capital with a voting option for shareholders
DividendFixed rate of dividendNo fixed rate of dividend
Role in ManagementNo role in managementHas a role in management
VotingNo voting rightsHas voting rights
Bonus SharesNot eligibleEligible

Choosing the right type of shares for my company

Each type of share has its own unique appeal according to the specific types of investor. Preference shares provide the shareholder with a priority to receive dividends, which may be more appealing to the profit-oriented investor, while others may find that the voting rights conferred by Ordinary shares are more important to them.

When choosing the types of share class for your company, you should evaluate the points highlighted in the main discussion above so that you can assess which class of shares will suit your investors the best.

If you are looking to expand or start your company in Singapore, or want to know more about the different types of shares, contact us to find out more.

 

You might be interested in reading about:

FAQ

Preference shares do not affect taxes. They are treated similarly to ordinary shares.

New shares can be issued at any time by getting approval from the shareholder’s by an ordinary resolution

It depends on the type of privilege that a company decides to give to its shareholders

Shares can be converted by passing a special resolution or by lodging a notice with ACRA

Ready to start your business?
Our expert team is here to help you. Explore our accounting services or contact our team to get personalised advice today.

Start a business in less than 3 hours with us. Talk to our experts today.

Got questions?

Get them answered for FREE by our experts.

Become a part of the Sleek Community now!

Other articles that might interest you

Related content

NEED SUPPORT?

We'd love to help. Share your contact details and we'll call you back

taking_your_questions

Start a business in less than 3 hours with us. Talk to our experts today.

Chat with us on WhatsApp from your mobile

Sleek SG QR Code Whatsapp
30D money back

30 Days Money Back Guarantee

Our refund policy:

We care about you – within 30 days from your purchase, if you’re unhappy with our services, we’ll refund our fee. Email or call us, and we’ll process the refund within five working days.

What it doesn’t cover:

We will not be able to refund Government fees once the application has been submitted, nor any third-party processing fees.

When it applies:

We cannot guarantee any specific legal outcomes when you use our services. For instance, a company registration might be filed correctly but still get rejected by the Company Registry for reasons beyond our control. We can only refund our fees for issues we are directly responsible for. In the case that you purchase a service and later change your mind, we can’t issue a refund.

Our customer support team is at your disposal for any questions or issue you may face.

Need help?

Our sales team is available from Mon - Fri 9am to 10pm (Singapore Time)

Let's get in touch

Book a time with our experts to guide you in finding the best solution.