Example. A taxpayer in 1947 purchased 100 shares of common stock at $100 per share and in 1954 by reason of the ownership of such stock acquired 100 rights entitling him to subscribe to 100 additional shares of such stock at $90 a share. Immediately after the issuance of the rights, each of the shares of stock in respect of which the rights were acquired had a fair market value, ex-rights, of $110 and the rights had a fair market value of $19 each. The basis of the rights and the common stock for the purpose of determining the basis for gain or loss on a subsequent sale or exercise of the rights or a sale of the old stock is computed as follows:
100 (shares) * $100 = $10,000, cost of old stock (stock in respect of which the rights were acquired).
100 (shares) * $110 = $11,000, market value of old stock.
100 (rights) * $19 = $1,900, market value of rights.
11,000/12,900 of $10,000 = $8,527.13, cost of old stock apportioned to such stock.
1,900/12,900 of $10,000 = $1,472.87, cost of old stock apportioned to rights.
If the rights are sold, the basis for determining gain or loss will be $14.7287 per right. If the rights are exercised, the basis of the new stock acquired will be the subscription price paid therefor ($90) plus the basis of the rights exercised ($14.7287 each) or $104.7287 per share. The remaining basis of the old stock for the purpose of determining gain or loss on a subsequent sale will be $85.2713 per share.
26 C.F.R. §1.307-1