The Board of Directors of GAIL Limited (GAIL) declared a dividend of Rs. 6.5/- per share, the ex-dividend date being February 07, 2025.
SEBI has prescribed a framework for the exchanges to adjust corporate actions in derivative contracts at the time of the corporate action. The exchange has published everything regarding the adjustments in case of corporate actions here. Accordingly, if a company declares a dividend at and above 2% of the market value of the underlying security, it is considered an extra-ordinary dividend and the exchange will take action in the adjustment of the futures and options contracts in the underlying security.
Since the dividend declared by GAIL is above 2% of the market value of the security, the exchange has published this circular on the adjustment of F&O contracts in GAIL on the ex-date: February 07, 2025.
Adjustment for future contracts:
All positions in futures contracts of GAIL will be marked-to-market on the last cum-dividend date, i.e. February 06, 2025, based on the daily settlement price of the respective futures contract. Subsequently, open positions will be carried forward at the daily settlement price less Rs. 6.5 (dividend amount) for the respective futures contract.
From February 07, 2025, (ex-dividend date), daily mark-to-market settlement of the futures contracts will continue as per normal procedures.
For example:
Assume you bought 1 lot (2350 quantities) of GAIL futures on February 6th, 2025, at Rs. 180, and the daily settlement price at the market close is Rs. 185, you would have made a mark-to-market profit of Rs. 5 per share.
On February 07, 2025, the previous day’s position will be carried forward at Rs. 178.5 (i.e. 185 –6.5). If the closing price on February 7th, 2025, is Rs. 182, you’ll make a mark-to-market profit of Rs. 3.5 per share.
Adjustment for options contracts:
The full value of the dividend i.e. Rs. 6.5 will be deducted from all the cum-dividend strike prices on the ex-dividend date. All positions in existing strike prices will continue to exist in the corresponding new adjusted strike prices.
For example:
The strike price of Rs. 180 Call Option will be reduced to Rs. 173.5 on February 7th, 2025, and the positions in Rs. 180 Call Option will continue to exist in Rs. 173.5 Call Option.
The lot size of the F&O contracts will not change.
Also, if you hold equity shares of GAIL in your Demat account as of February 7th, 2025 (ex-date) you will be entitled to receive the dividend which will be credited directly to your primary bank account within 30 to 45 days from the record date.