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When a company would have a negative book equity value?

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Question added by Siham Amer , Financial Analyst , Noor Al Hikmah Group
Date Posted: 2019/04/07
Rana Fahid Khan ACCA
by Rana Fahid Khan ACCA , Assistant Manager Finance , First Allied Trading Es

When total assets decrease from total liabilities this situation give rise to negative book value of equities. Due to some direct and indirect reasons. Accumulated losses Large Dividend distributions Borrowing money Amortization of intangible assets

Andre Erasmus
by Andre Erasmus , Operations Manager , Product Control for Agriculture SA

This happens when a companies shareholders equity is negative. And this happens when the liabilities exceed the assets of the company.

Zaheer Jaffer
by Zaheer Jaffer , Project Controller , Bombardier Transportation

Negative Equity is definitely not good in the financial books. However, if there is a comfort letter from the government entities that soft loans have been sanctioned for company in question, then an auditor does not have an issue signing off the audit report as going concern

Ashraf E. Mahmoud (PhD)
by Ashraf E. Mahmoud (PhD) , University Lecturer, Freelancer Consultant and Trainer for Int'l Business & Banking TF. , FreeLancer

Thanks for invitation,

A negative book equity value means that liabilities exceed assets and can be caused by some few reasons, mainly like: 

1- Accumulated losses over several financial periods.

2- Excess or large divined payments.

3- Borrowing funds to cover the accumulated losses.

4- Amortization of intangible assets.

Hamza Saeed
by Hamza Saeed , Head , Abdul Latif Jameel Retail Co. Ltd. – TOYOTA

When the liabilities of a company exceeds its assets.

Sourabh Singhal
by Sourabh Singhal , Senior Finance Manger , Seder Group Trading & contracting Co. Ltd

The negative amount of owner's equity means that the Company's balance sheet will report liability amount greater than the amount of assets. Below are the some reasons for negative equity value:-

1) Accumulated losses

2) Borrowing money

3) Large dividend payment

4) Amortization of intangible assets etc.

PRIYANT DHRANGDHARIYA
by PRIYANT DHRANGDHARIYA , Finance Head , The Kampala industries and Infrastructure Development Limited

Yes, a company's book equity value might be negative. Because the liability of the corporation exceeds its asset. There are many causes, such as the company's sustained large losses or its excessive debt load.

Sameh Sabri  CFC FMVA
by Sameh Sabri CFC FMVA , Group Finance manager , Invygo Saudi for communication and Information technology

The negative amount of owner's equity also means that the company's balance sheet will report liability amounts greater than the amount of assets. The company could operate under those conditions if its assets are turning to cash before the liabilities need to be paid.

Pavneet Singh
by Pavneet Singh , Assistant Manager , M/s Legal Mart LLP

Equity Value is derived as : (Share Capital + Accumulated P/L + Free Reserves.)/ Number of Equity Shares.

However equity book value can be negative due to losses in the Buisness. 

Example : Share Capital :     USD 100,000 (100 equity shares of USD 1000 each)             

               Accumulated P/L : (USD 500,000)

               Free Reserves     : NIL

 

So Book Value  of Equity : (100,000 + (-500,000)+0)/ 100

                                    : (-400,000)/100

                                    : -4,000/equity share.

Hence the Book Value of equity share is -4,000/equity share whose Face Value is USD 1000/- 

 

Kamran Khaliq
by Kamran Khaliq , Staff Accountant , AKS TAX & BOOKKEEPING

When liabilities exceed assets resulting in negative book equity value.

Masood Zeb
by Masood Zeb , Account Manager , Five star agro Fertilizer

when total liabities increases total assets. huge accumulatef losses. it give risr to megativr equity book value

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