Method of Redemption of Debentures

Debenture can be redeemed in various ways by a company. It can pay a lump sum on the date of maturity or may pay in annual installments. A company can also purchase it from the open market or convert to an equity share in case of convertible debentures. Innovative ways like call or put option can also be utilized. The company may exercise a call option or the investor may utilize put option for redemption.

Redeeming a debenture means paying back the principal amount to the debenture holder. To speak in company’s language, discharge off the debt liability of debentures. Debenture redemption generates a set of questions in mind with specifications like an amount of money to be required, sources from where to manage the fund, etc. A company is also relieved of a big liability after this and decrease its leverage ratios.

Redemption Of Debenture

There are various ways of redeeming a debenture which is discussed

Lump Sum Payment On A Fixed Date

This is the simplest option of redeeming the debentures. The debenture holders are paid their promised sum on the fixed date.

The lump sum is the total amount of principal of all the debentures if they are not redeemed at premium or discount. The fixed date is nothing but the maturity date mentioned on the agreement of debenture. The company may choose to pay the debentures before maturity also which is at the option of the company. The amount of payment and the date is known to the company in advance and therefore, they can manage the resources accordingly.

Payment In Annual Installment

This kind of redemption is similar to the redemption of a term loan. A term loan is normally redeemed in monthly, quarterly, biannual, or annual installments. In this method, the company pays some part of the principal every year to the debenture holders till the time of maturity. The total principal is divided by a number of years for which they are borrowed which becomes the installment to be paid at the end of every year.

Debenture Redemption Reserve / Sinking Fund

Debenture redemption reserve is a very well known term in the reference of debentures. This reserve is built by transferring some part of the profits in this reserve every year. It is always easy to arrange smaller fund every year than arranging a lot of funds at a particular point of time for payment to debenture holders. In many countries, a law has made it compulsory to maintain a debenture redemption reserve or a sinking fund. The primary objective is to protect an interest of the debenture holders.

Buy From Open Market

If the debentures are traded on a regulated exchange, the company can opt to purchase them from the open market. It will reduce a lot of administrative, paperwork and efforts of manpower.

Conversion Into Shares

There is a type of debentures called convertible debentures which contain a clause of conversion into ordinary equity shares of the company. As per the agreed terms and time period, the convertible debenture is converted into ordinary equity share and at that point of conversion, the liability of debenture is discharged.

Call and put option

A company may issue debenture with the call option or put option for the redemption purpose. A call option is exercised by the company whereby it can opt to purchase the debentures on or before the date of maturity at a price which is arrived at according to the terms and conditions mentioned at the time of issue. Similarly, a put option is exercised by the debenture holder whereby he has the right to sell the debenture to the company at some agreed price on or before the maturity date. It is an innovative way redeeming the debentures. A call option gives the company a freedom to get away from the burden at the time it wished to do so and vice versa is the case of investors.