This example shows how to record a share split in COW2000.

See Help Sheet IR285 [74Kb] for the Inland Revenue's rules about share reorganisations.

MEGACORP share history
Each transaction carries a £20 overhead to represent broker's commission etc.

Purchases
~ On 10 June 2000 you buy 200 shares @  80p with a Gross Cost of £180.00
~ On 10 June 2001 you buy 500 shares @ 100p with a Gross Cost of £520.00
~ On 10 June 2002 you buy 300 shares @ 120p with a Gross Cost of £380.00
Sales
~ On 10 June 2003 you sell 400 shares @ 115p with a Net Return of £440.00

Split Announcement
~ On 10 June 2004 MEGACORP announce a share split of 2 for 1.
Identify the shares sold and the shares remaining

You sold 400 shares in 2003. The Inland Revenue tax rules, outlined in Help Sheet IR284 [83Kb], define how these should be matched against purchases for the calculation of capital gains.

Allocating shares from the purchases in reverse chronological order:

~ 10 June 2002   300 shares with a Gross Cost of £380.00
~ 10 June 2001   100 shares with a Gross Cost of £104.00   (1/5 of the 2001 purchase)

Your current holding corresponds to the remaining purchases:

~ 10 June 2001   400 shares with a Gross Cost of £416.00   (4/5 of the 2001 purchase)
~ 10 June 2000   200 shares with a Gross Cost of £180.00
Rename the shares and sell your current holding at cost price

~ Rename "MEGACORP" to "MEGACORP-Pre-Split".

~ On 10 June 2000 sell 200 shares @  80p with a Net Return of £180.00.
~ On 10 June 2001 sell 400 shares @ 100p with a Net Return of £416.00.

These sales generate no capital gains liability.
Recreate the original share and repurchase, applying the split

~ Create a new share named MEGACORP.

Applying the 2 for 1 split, we must repurchase:

~ 10 June 2000 buy 400 shares @ 40p, with a Gross Cost of £180.
~ 10 June 2001 buy 800 shares @ 50p, with a Gross Cost of £416.

When you eventually sell your MEGACORP shares, it is these purchases which will be used to calculate your capital gains liability.
Note

When you sell all the renamed shares (MEGACORP-Pre-Split) and your holding becomes 0, the share will not appear on the share list unless "All Assets" is selected in the bottom left corner of COW2000.