10 Capital reduction, reorganisation and reconstruction - ICSA

10_CH10.QXD:IC8235 ch01.qxd 12/5/09 12:55 Page 239 

chapter 10 

Capital reduction, 

reorganisation and 

reconstruction 

1 Introduction 

2 Distributable profits 

3 Bonus issues 

4 Reduction of capital 

5 Redeemable shares and the purchase by 

a company of its own shares 

contents 

learning outcomes 

6 Failure, losses and capital erosion 

7 Liquidation 

8 Capital reconstruction 

This chapter covers the syllabus section entitled ‘Capital reduction, reorganisation and 

reconstruction’. After reading and understanding the contents of the chapter, working through 

all the Worked Examples and Practice Questions, you should be able to: 

Show a knowledge of the provisions of the Companies Act relating to the calculation of 

distributable profit and apply the rules to a set of financial facts. 

Understand the nature and purpose of a bonus issue of shares and be able to incorporate 

the financial effects of an issue into the content of the balance sheet. 

Explain the nature and role of the concept of permanent capital and explain the 

circumstances in which a reduction of capital must take place. 

Demonstrate an understanding of the effect of a share purchase or redemption on the 

content of the balance sheet. 

Outline the causes of business failure and explain the effect on the financial stability of a 

business of a series of operating losses. 

Prepare a statement showing the allocation of resources available on liquidation among the 

stakeholders in an enterprise. 

Prepare a scheme of capital reconstruction and incorporate its effects on the content of a 

business balance sheet.


240 COMBINING AND REORGANISING BUSINESS ENTITIES 

distributable profits 

Distributable profits consist 

of accumulated realised 

profits minus accumulated 

realised losses. 

1 Introduction 

A company should have a balanced capital structure when it is established, that is, its 

assets should be funded by the appropriate types of finance. Long-term sources, such as 

equity capital and debentures, should cover the investment in fixed assets and provide 

sufficient excess to make a significant contribution towards the funding of current 

assets. If the oft-quoted ideal working capital ratio of 2:1 is desired, then half the value 

of current assets should be financed by long-term capital, and the remainder financed 

by short-term sources such as trade credit.Within long-term sources of funds, a satisfactory 

relationship should be created between the various types available,the optimum 

structure depending on such factors as the nature of the trade undertaken and the likely 

stability of profits. 

Once a company starts to trade, the financial structure established at the outset is 

affected by the results of trading and the passage of time.The initial equity investment is 

increased by the amount of profit earned and retained in the business,and is reduced by 

the amount of any losses. As time passes, the repayment date for long-term loans gets 

closer and, near to the very end of their term, such sources must be classified as current 

liabilities. The rate at which customers pay and suppliers are paid affects the balance 

between current assets and liabilities,as do credit purchases of additional stock required 

to expand a successful company. In the longer term, success may encourage the acquisition 

of extra production capacity that must be funded by an appropriate type of finance 

if the capital structure of the business is to remain balanced. 

The financial position of a business is subject to continuous change unless the 

company is dormant and does not trade. Flows of resources take place with trading 

and these have an impact on the enterprise, which can be beneficial or detrimental. 

The result is that the business may be either a success or a failure. A very successful 

business, in this context, is one that manages to expand, while survival, with an 

adequate level of return but no expansion, is regarded as a satisfactory performance. 

If a company goes into liquidation, or has to be reconstructed, it is a failure.There are 

certain courses of action that may be followed as a result of the success or failure of a 

business. It is the purpose of this chapter to examine these alternatives and the 

accounting entries that are needed to reflect them. 

test your knowledge 10.1 

Identify the two asset categories that must be funded from long-term sources 

of finance. 

2 Distributable profits 

The rules for the calculation of distributable profits differ between private and 

public limited companies. Identification of the particular category into which a 

company falls into is a simple matter: public limited companies are identified by the 

designatory letters plc, whereas Ltd after a company’s name indicates that it is a 

private company.There are many differences between these two types of company, 

perhaps the most notable is that public companies have a minimum share capital 

requirement of £50,000 and private companies are not allowed to make a public 

issue of shares or debentures. 

The 2006 Companies Act (section 830) defines distributable profits of private 

companies as: accumulated realised profits minus accumulated realised losses, 

where:


worked example 10.1 

10 CAPITAL REDUCTION, REORGANISATION AND RECONSTRUCTION 241 

Accumulated realised profits are realised profits that have not already been distributed 

as dividends or capitalised. 

Accumulated realised losses are realised losses that have not been previously 

written off in either a reduction or reorganisation of capital. 

For this purpose, profits or losses may either be capital or revenue in their origin. 

The effect of these rules is that a company is legally entitled to declare a dividend out of 

realised profits brought forward but, if there are accumulated losses brought forward, 

these losses must first be made good before a dividend can be paid. A company with 

large accumulated realised losses may therefore find it convenient to undertake a reduction 

of capital if it wishes to avoid a long delay before it can pay a dividend out of the 

profits accruing as the result of an improvement in trading conditions. 

The Act does not define realised and unrealised profits and losses, but it does 

provide some guidance regarding the treatment of particular items. 

Provisions (i.e. liabilities of uncertain timing or amount) are to be treated as 

realised losses. 

Any additional depreciation, which is charged as the result of an upward revaluation 

of fixed assets, may be added back to reported profits for the purpose of computing 

distributable profits.This provision was introduced to avoid discouraging companies 

from revaluing their assets where they considered such a course appropriate. 

Development expenditure, shown as a fixed asset, is to be treated as a realised loss 

for the purpose of computing distributable profit, unless there are‘special circumstances’ 

justifying capitalisation, in which case the expenditure may be carried 

forward. Special circumstances are not defined in the Act, but the capitalisation of 

development expenditure that complies with the conditions laid down in 

accounting standards is probably acceptable. 

In those circumstances not specifically covered by the Act, the determination of 

whether a profit or loss has been realised must be made in the light of prevailing 

accounting standards. 

The following summarised information is provided relating to the affairs of Tree plc and Branch plc, both 

public limited companies. 

1 Summary Balance Sheets at 31 December 20X4 

Tree plc Branch plc 

£000 £000 

Ordinary share capital 6,000 3,000 

Reserves 5,000 –1,300 

11,000 1,700 

Net assets 11,000 1,700



worked example 10.1 continued 

2 Build-up of Reserves at 31 December 20X4 


£000 £000 

Retained realised profit (loss) at 1 January 20X4 1,900 –2,300 

Realised profit for 20X4 (see 3) 1,300 1,000 

Unrealised loss on revaluation of all fixed assets – – 

Realised capital profit 600 – 

Unrealised profit on revaluation of assets 1,200 – 

5,000 –1,300 

3 Tree owns a freehold property which cost £500,000 (including land £100,000) some years ago. It was 

revalued at £1,700,000 (including land £400,000) on 1 January 20X3. Since that date the building has been 

depreciated at 5 per cent per annum, based on the revalued figure in arriving at realised profit for the year. 

Required: 

(a) Define distributable profit in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act. Indicate the points 

that must be looked for when calculating the maximum distributable profits of a limited company. 

(b) Calculate the maximum distribution that can be legally made by Tree plc and Branch plc on the basis of 

the above information. 

Answers 

(a) The Companies Act 2006 defines distributable profits as accumulated realised profits minus accumulated 

realised losses, where accumulated realised profits have not already been distributed as dividends or 

capitalised and accumulated realised losses are realised losses which have not been previously written off 

in either a reduction or re-organisation of capital. 

Profits or losses may be either capital or revenue in their origin. The distributable profits are not 

therefore confined to the results of the current period but must take account of accumulated realised 

profits or losses brought forward. 

Provisions as defined by the Companies Act, e.g. provision for depreciation, are to be treated as realised 

losses for the purpose of calculating distributable profit. Any additional depreciation charged as the result 

of an upward revaluation of fixed assets may be added back in computing distributable profit. 

In circumstances not specifically covered by the Act, the determination of whether a profit or loss has 

been realised must be made in the light of the provisions contained in accounting standards. 

(b) 


£000 £000 

Retained profit/–loss at 1 January 1,900 2,300 

Profit for 20X4 1,300 1,000 

Realised capital profit 600 1,00– 

Depreciation relating to revaluation* 90 1,00– 

Maximum distribution 3,890 1,300 

Branch is unable to make a distribution. 

*£1,300,000 (revised value of building) – £400,000 (historical cost) × 5 per cent × 2 years. 


Define distributable profit in accordance with the provisions of the Companies 

Act 2006.


bonus issue 

A bonus issue of shares 

involves allotting fully paid 

shares to its existing 

members in proportion to 

their existing holdings by 

capitalising the 

corresponding value from 

its reserves. 



3 Bonus issues 

Bonus issues of shares are also referred to as‘Scrip Issues’ or‘Capitalisation Issues’.To 

make such an issue, a company allots fully paid shares to its existing members and capitalises 

the corresponding value from its reserves. The company does not receive any 

consideration for the issue. Every shareholder receives bonus shares in proportion to 

their existing stake in the company. For instance, the holder of 10 per cent of the equity 

shares would receive 10 per cent of any bonus issue. A company must have adequate 

reserves to make a bonus issue,and these will be possessed by a successful company that 

has retained a significant portion of its profits.A bonus issue may alternatively be made 

from any credit balance of a Share PremiumAccount or Capital Redemption Reserve. 

A company can make a bonus issue if authorised by its Articles which usually 

contain a requirement for a general meeting to approve the directors’recommendation 

for a bonus issue before it may be made.A further consideration is that there must be 

sufficient authorised, but unissued, capital to enable the issue to take place. 

The Good Company Ltd has traded successfully for a number of years and has ploughed profits back into 

the company. Its authorised share capital consists of four million shares of £1 each and its balance sheet at 

31 December 20X1 is: 

£000 

Fixed assets 960 

Working capital 350 

1,310 

Equity: 

Ordinary shares of £1 each 200 

Share premium 200 

Retained profit 910 


It has decided to make a bonus issue of shares, four bonus shares being given for each share currently held. The 

issue is to utilise the balance on the share premium account, with the remainder taken from retained profit. 

Required: 

The balance sheet of the Good Company Ltd as it will appear after the bonus issue. 

Answer 

Good Company Ltd Balance Sheet 31 December 20X1 

£000 




Equity: 

Ordinary shares of £1 each 1,000 

Retained profit 310 

1,310




It can be seen that the bonus issue has not brought any new resources to the company;the 

only effect is an alteration in the composition of the shareholders’ equity, the total of 

which remains unchanged at £1,310,000.There is also no effect on the relative interest 

of each member in the company. Prior to the issue, a holder of 40,000 shares owned 20 

per cent of the company with a carrying value of 20 per cent × £1,310,000 = £262,000; 

after the issue the holding has risen to 200,000 shares, which is still 20 per cent of the 

issued shares and it has the same carrying value. 

If the directors do not wish to increase the amount of profit distributed, they must 

take steps to reduce proportionally the dividend per share. For example, to maintain a 

constant total cash distribution,after a three for one bonus issue,a company would have 

to reduce the dividend per share to one quarter of its former amount. However, as each 

shareholder after the issue has four times as many shares as previously, each receives an 

unchanged dividend in cash terms.The increase in the number of shares in issue does 

not affect the value of the company, as is shown by the case of a public limited company, 

with quoted shares, where the change in the market price per share should bear an 

inverse relationship to any increase in the number of shares on the market. 

Traction plc is a listed company and has an issued share capital of 10 million ordinary shares with a nominal 

value of £1 each. The market value of each share is £6. 

Required: 

Illustrate the expected effect of a two for one bonus issue and a cut in the dividend per share from 12p to 4p on: 

(a) the market value of one share; 

(b) the market value of the entire company and the dividend it pays; 

(c) the market value of a holding of 5,000 shares and the dividend received by the shareholder. 

Answers 

(a) Whereas one share is held before the bonus issue, three are held after it. The value of the single share was 

£6 and the total value of the three shares into which it is converted is £6. Therefore, the value of a single 

share after the bonus issue is £2. 

(b) 

Value Dividend Paid 

Before bonus issue 10m £6 £60m 10m £0.12 £1.2m 

After bonus issue 30m £2 £60m 30m £0.04 £1.2m 

The gratuitous issue of an extra 20 million shares reduces the share price proportionally and the total value of 

the company and the cash dividend remain unchanged. 

(c) 

Value Dividend Received 

Before bonus issue 5,000 £6 £30,000 5,000 £0.12 £600 

After bonus issue 15,000 £2 £30,000 15,000 £0.04 £600 

Again, the total value of the shares and the dividend received remain unchanged. 

It is therefore clear that the effect of a bonus issue is simply to increase the number 

of shares a company has in issue. This raises the question: Why would a company 

wish to make such an issue? Possible reasons are: 

Theoretically, the balance on retained profit is distributable as cash dividends; in 

practice, this course may not be open to the company as the funds have been 

permanently invested in the substance of the business. For instance, in Worked 

Example 10.2, the Good Company Ltd could not distribute the retained profits


reduction of capital 

Reduction of capital involves 

the repayment or writing 

down of a company’s share 

capital as a result of either 

an excess of funds without 

profitable uses or large 

accumulated losses. 


without liquidating a substantial portion of its fixed assets. A bonus issue recognises 

the company’s inability to distribute retained profits and brings the balance 

sheet into line with this economic reality. 

The creation of an enlarged permanent equity capital base makes the company 

more attractive to potential investors and creditors as the level of gearing cannot 

be increased by the withdrawal of profit that has been capitalised. 

A bonus issue is sometimes taken as an indication of the fact that the directors 

intend to increase the overall level of dividend. If the investors believe this will 

happen, the shares become more attractive and the price will fall less than would 

be expected otherwise. In Worked Example 10.3, the share price might finish up 

above £2. 

The larger number of shares in circulation should help create a more active market 

as holdings are made more easily divisible. 

A listed company that has a high and unwieldy share price may make a bonus issue 

to create a lower price per share. This is useful where, for example, a company 

acquires other companies by share exchanges and wishes to make the value of 

each of its own shares closer to that of likely acquisitions. 

A successful company with substantial accumulated profits may receive favourable 

publicity from their capitalisation.The bonus issue draws attention to the success 

that has created the profits to enable the issue to take place. 

The reduction in the dividend per share may help avoid any unfavourable publicity 

attached to the declaration of apparently high rates of dividend. 


Explain the effect of a bonus issue on the market price of company shares. 

4 Reduction of capital 

The Companies Act 2006 (Part 17, Chapter 10) allows a company to reduce its share 

capital in any way it considers appropriate.The ability given in the Act is therefore a 

general one, but specific instances are also stated (section 641): 

(a) Share capital that is lost or unrepresented by available assets may be cancelled 

(Worked Example 10.4 below). 

(b) Share capital in excess of the needs of the company may be repaid (Worked 

Example 10.5 below). 

(c) A company may extinguish or reduce the liability on any of its shares in respect 

of share capital not paid up. 

In each of these cases, the right to reduce can be exercised only if certain conditions 

are met: 

The company must be authorised to reduce its share capital by its Articles of 

Association. 

The reduction must be agreed by a special resolution of the members, that is, a 

resolution passed by a majority of at least 75 per cent. 

The reduction must be confirmed by the court. This requirement is particularly 

important in relation to (b) and (c) above.The repayment of capital (b) actually 

reduces the assets of the company, while the reduction or cancellation of liability 

on unpaid share capital (c) reduces the funds on which a company can call if 

required. A creditor of a company, which decides to reduce its capital, such as a 

bank with which the company has an overdraft, may consider that its likelihood of 

repayment is jeopardised by the reduction. Such a creditor may object to the court, 

which can direct either that payment of the debt is secured or that an agreed 

amount is set aside to meet it.




The cancellation of share capital unrepresented by available assets and the repayment 

of share capital to members are each likely to have a substantial effect on the content 

of the balance sheet. 

When a company has either been trading unprofitably for a number of years or 

suffers abnormally large losses in a single year, it may have accumulated losses. Despite 

these losses, which have eroded capital, a company may still be viable and be able to 

earn profits in the future. In these circumstances, it is reasonable to recognise that 

some of the capital has been lost and to reduce its value accordingly.A further reason 

for engaging in capital reduction is that the Companies Act 2006 prohibits the distribution 

of current profits before past losses have been made good, but allows past 

losses to be removed from the calculation of distributable profits if they are written off 

in a capital reduction.Thus, a capital reduction scheme enables dividends to be paid 

from current profits despite the fact that losses have been made in the past that have not 

been made good.Also, a reduction scheme that removes accumulated losses makes the 

company more attractive to prospective investors and providers of credit. 

Getting Better Ltd is an old-established company which, after trading profitably for a number of years, incurred 

substantial losses. Its balance sheet at 31 December 20X1 is: 

£000 



750 


Accumulated loss –250 

750 

The company has rationalised its methods of production and distribution and has returned to profitability. It 

wishes to raise additional equity capital and, as a preliminary step, decides to reduce its share capital to 

eliminate the debit balance on the profit and loss account by cancelling one out of every four ordinary shares in 

issue. 

Required: 

Prepare the company’s balance sheet, after the capital reduction has taken place. 

Answer 

Getting Better Ltd – Balance Sheet 31 December 20X1 after capital reduction 

£000 



750 


In this example, the existing shareholders retain three shares out of every four shares 

previously held. Alternatively, the company could keep one million shares in issue 

and reduce the nominal value of each share to 75 pence. 

A company may find that it has assets in excess of its requirements. For instance, it 

may dispose of a division of its business but not wish to reinvest the cash received. The 

scale of the undertaking’s activities is reduced, with the result that its share capital is 

now too large for its new, smaller level of operations. It may be decided that it is appropriate 

to reduce the size of the company’s share capital by repaying to the shareholders 

the amount in excess of requirements.




Smaller Ltd has sold to a competitor, for cash, a substantial number of its retail outlets. The bulk of the 

company’s shares are owned by the directors, the balance being held by members of their families. The 

company’s balance sheet after the sale at 31 December 20X1 is: 

Fixed assets 

£000 

200 

Working capital requirements 150 

Surplus cash 750 

1,100 


Retained earnings 100 

1,100 

The directors are nearing retirement age and, as they have no successors, decide to run the company at its 

reduced size and return the surplus assets to the shareholders. The reduction of capital is to be achieved by 

reducing the nominal value of each share to 25 pence and repaying 75 pence per share to the shareholders. 

Required: 

Prepare the company’s balance sheet after the capital reduction has been carried out. 

Answer 

Smaller Ltd – Balance Sheet 31 December 20X1 after capital reduction 

£000 



350 

Ordinary shares of 25 pence each 250 

Retained earnings 100 

350 

redeemable shares 

Redeemable shares are 

preference and ordinary 

shares which are specifically 

redeemable under the terms 

of their issue. 


Identify three statutory requirements that must be met in order for a company to 

engage in a reduction of capital. 

5 Redeemable shares and the purchase by a company 

of its own shares 

The CompaniesAct 2006 (Part 18, Chapter 3) contains provisions that allow companies 

to issue redeemable shares of all types and to purchase their own shares For the 

purpose of the Financial Accounting examination, candidates will be expected to be 

familiar only with the main provisions and able to work simple examples. The 

complications that arise when the original issue of shares was made at a premium are 

specifically excluded. In sections 5.1–5.3 we consider the position where a public 

limited company redeems some of its shares; the rules for a company purchasing its 

own shares are largely the same and are dealt with in section 5.4. In all cases the 

company must have the appropriate powers in its Articles of Association.



permanent capital 

Permanent capital consists 

of a company’s issued share 

capital plus any reserves 

which are not distributable 

by way of dividends. 

capital redemption reserve 

Capital redemption reserve 

is an undistributable reserve 

arising from the redemption 

of shares or the purchase by 

a company of its own shares. 

The purpose of the capital 

redemption reserve is to 

protect the creditors by 

preventing what would 

otherwise effectively be a 

reduction in permanent 

capital. 


5.1 The legal provisions 

The intention of the Act is that the permanent capital of a company that redeems 

some of its shares should be maintained in value, and not diminished as a result of 

the redemption. A company’s permanent capital consists of its issued share capital 

plus any reserves which are not distributable by way of dividends; for example, a 

revaluation reserve is part of permanent capital, while any balance of retained profits 

is not. To achieve the objective of permanent capital maintenance, the Act contains 

detailed instructions to be applied when shares are redeemed. 

These rules, in so far as they are within the syllabus, are: 

The shares must be fully paid. 

Companies must not convert shares into creditors; the terms of redemption must 

provide for payment on redemption. 

Redeemable shares may only be redeemed out of distributable profits of the 

company or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of 

the redemption. 

Any premium payable on redemption must be provided out of distributable profits. 

A transfer to a capital redemption reserve must be made, computed as follows: 

(i) Where the redemption is made entirely out of profits, a sum equal to the 

nominal value of the shares redeemed must be transferred from profit to the 

capital redemption reserve. 

(ii) Where the redemption is made wholly or partly out of a new issue, the sum 

to be transferred from profit to the capital redemption reserve is the amount, 

if any, by which the nominal value of the shares redeemed exceeds the 

proceeds of the new issue. 

Redeemed shares must be treated as cancelled. 

5.2 Redemption met entirely out of distributable profits 

Where the redemption is met entirely out of distributable profits, the nominal value of 

the permanent capital repaid on redemption is replaced by an equivalent transfer 

from distributable profits to the non-distributable capital redemption reserve. Any 

premium payable on redemption must be met from distributable reserves. 

The following extracts are taken from the balance sheet of Redeemer plc at 31 December 20X6: 

Ordinary shares of £1 each 

£000 

600 

Redeemable shares of £1 each 100 

Share premium account 400 

Permanent capital 1,100 

Distributable profits 300 

Net assets (including cash) 1,400 

The company intends to redeem the 100,000 redeemable shares making no new issue. 

Required: 

Prepare balance sheet extracts, in the same format as above, to show the effect of the redemption in each of 

the following cases: 

(a) The shares were issued and redeemed at par. 

(b) The shares were issued at par and are redeemed at £1.10 per share, i.e. at a premium of 10p per share.




Answers 

Revised Balance Sheet extracts 

Case A Case B 

£000 £000 

Ordinary shares of £1 each 600 600 

Share premium account 400 400 

Capital redemption reserve 100 100 

Permanent capital 1,100 1,100 

Distributable profits 200 190 

Net assets (including cash) 1,300 1,290 

Workings: £000 £000 

Transfer from share capital to capital redemption reserve 

(nominal value of capital redeemed) 

Reduction in distributable profit and net assets (amount 

100 100 

paid on redemption) 100 110 

Note that in both cases the redemption is met out of distributable profits and the amount by which the 

company’s issued capital is diminished is transferred to the capital redemption reserve. The permanent capital 

is thereby maintained intact at £1,100,000 as the result of applying the relevant provisions of the Act. 


5.3 Shares redeemed wholly or partly out of the proceeds of a 

new issue 

A fresh issue of shares may be made to help finance the redemption. In this case, the 

procedure applied to maintain the value of permanent capital is slightly more complex 

than when no such issue is made.The transfer from distributable profit to the Capital 

Redemption Reserve need be sufficient only to replace that part of the permanent 

capital redeemed which is not covered by the new permanent capital introduced. 

Assume the same balance sheet for Redeemer at 31 December at 20X6 as in Worked Example 10.6. 

The company intends to redeem the 100,000 redeemable shares at a premium of 20p per share. 

Required: 

Prepare balance sheet extracts, in the same format as above, to show the effect of the redemption in each of 

the following cases: 

(a) Redemption partly financed by the issue of 50,000 ordinary shares of £1 each at par. 

(b) Redemption partly financed by the issue of 50,000 ordinary shares of £1 each at £1.50 per share. 

Answer 

Revised Balance Sheet Extracts 

(a) (b) 

£000 £000 

Ordinary shares of £1 each 650 650 

Share premium account 400 425 

Capital redemption reserve 50 25 

Permanent capital 1,100 1,100 

Distributable profits 230 255 

Net assets (including cash) 1,330 1,355




Note that the permanent capital is maintained intact at £1,100,000 as the result of applying the provisions of 

the Act. 

Workings (£000): Case A Case B 

£000 £000 

Nominal value of shares redeemed 100 100 

Less: Proceeds of new issue 

Shortfall transferred from distributable profit to capital 

50 75 

redemption reserve 50 25 


(a) Define the permanent capital of a company. 

(b) Explain the effect on the balance sheet of a company redeeming shares out of 

cash available surplus to operating requirements. 

(c) Explain how one would compute the transfer to capital redemption reserve 

where a redemption of shares is partly financed out of the proceeds of a new 

issue of shares. 

5.4 Purchase by a company of its own shares 

The Act allows a company to purchase its own shares, subject to certain conditions, 

whether or not they are redeemable. This ability benefits both public and private 

companies. Public companies are able, for example,to return to members any funds in 

excess of requirements, to avoid the need for a capital reduction exercise and to revise 

more easily their capital structures to bring them into line with current requirements. 

This procedure has also been used by quoted companies, especially in the United 

States, to increase the share price by reducing the number of shares on the market. 

The arrangement also has the effect of leaving on the market fewer shares between 

which profits are to be shared and so increases the value of earnings per share (see 

chapter 11, section 6).The main advantage to owners of shares in private companies 

is the ability to realise their investment by selling their shares to the company, thereby 

overcoming any difficulty that would previously have been experienced, in transferring 

their shares. For instance, close control of family companies may be retained by 

using the company’s resources to acquire the shares of a member who dies and/or 

retires. However, the company is not bound to purchase its own shares, and can do so 

only if it has the resources available. 

The conditions that a company must satisfy to purchase its own shares are largely 

similar to those which apply to redeemable shares.




The following is the summarised balance sheet of Beacons Ltd, a long established family company, at 

31 March 20X0: 

Ordinary shares of £1 each 

£000 

300 

Revaluation reserve 150 

Retained earnings 400 

Net assets including cash 850 

Ninety per cent of the shares are owned by the directors, the balance being held by their distant relatives. The 

directors wish to concentrate ownership of the company in their own hands and, as the company has surplus 

cash, made an offer for the company to purchase the shares held by the distant relatives. The offer values each 

share at £2.50. 

The offer was accepted by all the shareholders concerned and was put into effect on 1 April 20X0. 

Required: 

(a) State the value of Beacons Ltd’s permanent capital at 31 March 20X0. 

(b) Prepare the balance sheet of Beacons Ltd on 1 April 20X0 immediately after it has purchased its own shares. 

(c) State the value of Beacons Ltd’s permanent capital at 1 April 20X0 after the purchase has been completed. 

Answer 

(a) The permanent capital is £450,000 (£300,000 share capital + £150,000 revaluation reserve) 

(b) £000 

Ordinary shares of £1 each 270 (W1) 

Revaluation reserve 150 

Capital redemption reserve 30 

Retained earnings 325 (W2) 

Net assets including cash 

Workings: 

775 

W1 300 (original share capital) 30 (capital redeemed 10 per cent 300) 

W2 400 (original balance) – 30 (transfer to capital redemption reserve) – 45 (premium on redemption) 

(c) The permanent capital is £450,000 (£270,000 shares + £150,000 revaluation reserve + £30,000 

capital redemption reserve) 

6 Failure, losses and capital erosion 

It is a fact that some companies fail and then have to be liquidated. Management and 

owners are often unwilling to face the likelihood of failure and attempt to struggle 

on until they are forced to accept the reality of the situation by, for example, the 

appointment of a receiver. Companies in financial difficulties need to obtain further 

finance, and the bank manager is often the first person approached for these 

resources. 

The optimistic attitude typically displayed by business management, often with 

little regard to the actual circumstances, is that the firm’s position will improve and 

failure will be avoided provided it can survive for a further short period of time. It is 

therefore in the interests of potential providers of finance to be able to judge which 

companies are merely going through a period of temporary difficulty and which 

companies are going to fail. It is important to ensure, as far as possible, that too 

pessimistic an assessment is not made, since the withdrawal of an existing financial 

provision by the bank may cause the failure of a company which would otherwise



have recovered. Success or failure cannot be forecast with certainty, but there are a 

number of indicators that have been observed in failed companies and which can be 

looked for in companies suffering from financial difficulties in order to see whether 

they too are likely to fail. 

6.1 The causes of failure 

The prime factor that causes companies to fail is inadequate management, which 

may misjudge costs, prices or markets, or base decisions on insufficient or out of date 

information.These shortcomings eventually cause the company to become insolvent 

and force it into liquidation.The causes of failure are therefore the factors that erode 

the liquidity of the company and leave it unable to attract further external finance or 

generate sufficient internal finance to continue in operation.When a financial institution 

is approached with a request for a loan or overdraft and the company’s 

accounts reveal a poor liquidity position, the causes of the low liquidity ratio must be 

sought. If the causes are of a permanent nature, the provision of additional finance 

will merely postpone liquidation as the company will suffer another liquidity crisis 

as soon as the new funds have been used up. 

The causes of liquidity problems may be complex, but can be sought in such areas as: 

Finance costs 

Interest charges on debt represent a fixed cost. They do not vary with the rate of 

output. A company with a high proportion of debt finance has to meet substantial 

interest payments, and it is possible for these to prove too great a burden, especially if 

there is a downturn in trading profit. Small companies often rely heavily on overdrafts 

for finance, and an increase in the rate of interest charged, particularly if it 

coincides with a fall in trading profits, can cause great difficulties. 

Operating costs 

The high fixed costs associated with capital-intensive production methods can prove 

an excessive drain on resources, particularly if there is a fall in the level of activity. 

Fixed costs do not respond to changes in the level of output, and may be completely 

outside the control of management; for example, local authorities collect rates from 

the occupiers of business premises and these must be paid by businesses irrespective 

of their profitability.Also, the variable cost per unit of output may rise, for example, 

as the result of a pay increase granted to employees. If a firm cannot increase its 

selling price to recover increased operating costs, its profit margins are eroded or 

even converted into losses, thereby reducing the level of cash flow into the business. 

Over-trading 

A company may be profitable but management takes the unwise step of financing longterm 

developments with short-term funds, that is, they use money needed to meet 

operating costs to acquire fixed assets or to fund long-term activities such as research. 

Market failure 

It is possible for a company to be efficient and,initially,to have a correctly balanced capital 

structure. However, it will still fail if it cannot sell its product at a price high enough to 

cover costs.The inability to charge an adequate price may be due to competitors having 

lower prices or simply the fact that there is no longer a demand for the company’s particular 

product. 

Adverse currency movements 

When the value of the home currency of an exporter rises relative to other currencies, 

the value of its sales in overseas markets falls when the proceeds are remitted. For 

example, a company based in Upland, where the currency is the U, exports goods to 

Lowland, where the currency is the L.The customers of Lowland pay a price stated in Ls 

and, in both 20X0 and 20X1, the company collected L100,000 from sales in Lowland.




In 20X0,the exchange rate was 4L 1U.In 20X1,the U strengthened and the exchange 

rate became 5L 1U.When exchanged,the 20X0 sales yield 100,000 4 U25,000, 

while the 20X1 sales produced only 100,000 5 U20,000.The company has to pay 

its costs in Us and the reduced receipts may be insufficient for that purpose. 

Where symptoms such as those described above appear, a decision must be made 

whether they can be rectified in sufficient time and at a small enough cost to enable the 

company to continue in existence. If it is fairly certain that the company is going to 

fail, commercial losses are minimised by injecting no further finance.The likelihood 

of a firm, which appears to be failing, avoiding eventual liquidation depends to a large 

extent on the ability of management.To have reached the position where failure is a 

distinct possibility can be evidence of poor management, and a condition of financial 

help could be the injection of new managerial expertise.Any lenders’ evaluation of the 

prospects of survival is likely to be based on forecasts made by management, and these 

must therefore be checked carefully for realism and compared with past results to see 

if they are consistent. 


Describe four possible causes of business failure. 

6.2 Losses and capital erosion 

Losses are caused by the failure to recover all costs through sales.The solution lies in the 

company’s ability to raise prices, cut costs or produce a new product that can be sold 

profitably. A company that makes losses suffers an erosion of capital, which produces a 

corresponding reduction in net assets.The impact of losses on the viability of a company 

depends on their size relative to the company’s resources, and on their duration.A relatively 

small annual loss is unlikely in itself to have a significant effect; the company still 

has a positive cash flow from trading if its depreciation charge is greater than the loss. 

The accumulation of a series of losses, even if individually small, has a more 

serious impact in the longer term. In these circumstances the cash flow represented 

by depreciation is used to finance running costs and the firm will probably be unable 

to attract finance when it is time for plant replacement. A company that continually 

makes losses is heading for likely failure; the size of the losses merely determines how 

long the process takes. The effect of large significant losses is more immediate and 

precipitates the crisis more quickly. 

The balance sheet of Going Ltd at 31 December 20X0 is: 

£000 

Fixed assets at written-down value 400 


750 

Share capital 500 

Retained earnings 250 

750 

The fixed assets are expected to last a further five years and to keep pace with inflation it is forecast that 

£20,000 per year must be invested in additional working capital.




Required: 

Prepare the balance sheet of Going Ltd at 31 December 20X5 on the alternative assumptions that in each of 

the next five years it suffers a loss after charging depreciation of: 

(a) £20,000 

(b) £60,000 

Comment on the results. 

Answer 

(a) (b) 

£000 £000 

Fixed assets at written down value – – 

Working capital 450 450 

Surplus cash 200 W1 – W2 

650 450 

Share capital 500 500 

Retained earnings 150 250 

Workings (£000): 

650 450 

5 years’ losses 5 years’ – 5 years’ additional Surplus cash 

depreciation working capital 31 December 20X5 

W1 100 400 100 200 

W2 300 400 100 0 

No dividends have been paid throughout the five years, and in neither case does Going Ltd have enough cash 

at the end of 20X5 to replace the exhausted fixed assets. The continual losses make it most unlikely that new 

external finance can be obtained. In case (b), the losses have eroded the book value of the share capital, while 

annual losses in excess of £60,000 would deplete working capital and therefore reduce the volume of trade 

the company is able to undertake. 

The Act requires any director of a public company to call an extraordinary general 

meeting on becoming aware of the fact that, as a result of business losses, the 

company’s net assets are worth half or less of its called-up share capital.The meeting 

must be convened within 28 days of the loss becoming known and must be held within 

56 days.This meeting is instructed to consider whether any, and if so what, measures 

should be taken to deal with the situation. For this purpose, the net assets of a company 

are defined as‘the aggregate of its assets less the aggregate of its liabilities’, and so their 

value is revealed by the balance sheet. The speed with which the erosion becomes 

apparent will therefore depend on the frequency of preparation of balance sheets. 

The objective of this provision is to make the shareholders aware of the fact that 

the company has suffered major losses. Once this has been done, they are able to meet 

to consider possible courses of action to prevent the accumulation of further losses. 

However, the legal requirement to call a meeting may give rise to problems.The fact 

that a meeting has been called may cause a withdrawal of finance by, for example, 

banks and trade creditors, thereby bringing about a failure which might have been 

averted. Assets are valued for accounting purposes on the assumption that the business 

is a going concern. In the circumstances that lead to the calling of a meeting 

under the Act, the liquidation basis may be more appropriate.The use of liquidation 

values would, although prudent, possibly reinforce the assumption that the company 

is bound to fail and hasten its end.


liquidation 

Liquidation is the process 

whereby the assets of a 

company are realised and 

distributed to its 

shareholders and creditors. 

worked example 10.10 

7 Liquidation 


Liquidation is usually caused by a company being unable to pay its debts as they fall 

due.In determining the company’s ability to pay its debts,theAct requires all contingent 

and prospective liabilities to be taken into account.Therefore, a company may currently 

be solvent but may be forced into liquidation if it is apparent that it will be unable to 

meet some future obligation.When a company goes into liquidation,the administration 

of its affairs passes from the board of directors to an official known as a‘liquidator’. It is 

the duty of the liquidator to realise the assets of the company for as much as possible and 

to use the proceeds to pay its creditors and members in a specified order. 

The order of repayment is as follows: 

Debts secured with a fixed charge on an asset have first priority and are repayable 

out of the proceeds received from the sale of that asset. It is unlikely that the realised 

value of the asset will be exactly equal to the amount of the debt, and any surplus is 

used by the liquidator to meet the company’s other liabilities. Great care must be 

exercised when there is a deficit,that is, the value of the secured asset is less than the 

debt. In these circumstances, the secured debt effectively divides into two separate 

parts; the first is covered by the secured asset to the extent of its value, and the 

second part ranks alongside, and therefore is added to, the unsecured creditors. 

The costs of liquidation. 

Preferential debts, which include certain taxes and sums due to employees. 

Debts that carry a floating charge, that is, they are secured on the company’s assets 

in general. 

Unsecured creditors. 

Shareholders. The priority for repayment where there exist different classes of 

shares is determined by the terms on which the shares were issued. Preference 

shares are normally repaid in full before the ordinary shares, while the Act gives 

priority, within their particular class, to redeemable shares and any which the 

company has agreed to purchase but has not acquired by the time of liquidation. 

The liquidator of Gone Ltd has sold all of the company’s assets for £250,000 in cash. 

The financial obligations of the company are: 

Cost of liquidation 

£000 

30 

Preferential debts 20 

Debts with floating charges 100 

Unsecured creditors 200 

Ordinary shareholders 250 

Required: 

(a) Calculate how much is received by each class of creditor and shareholder, showing clearly the order of 

priority. 

(b) Calculate the sum received by an unsecured creditor owed £2,500.



worked example 10.10 continued 

Answers 

(a) The funds available are distributed as follows: 

Order of Priority £000 

Received from sale of assets 250 

1 Less: cost of liquidation 30 

220 

2 Less: Preferential debts 20 

200 

3 Less: Debts with floating charges 100 

4 Available for unsecured creditors 100 

Unsecured creditors are owed £200,000 and each receives 50 pence in the pound. 

5 Ordinary shareholders receive nothing 

(b) An unsecured creditor owed £2,500 receives 50 pence × 2,500 = £1,250. 

capital reconstruction 

Capital reconstruction is a 

change in the capital 

structure of a company 

involving, for example, a 

reduction of capital, changes 

in the rights of classes of 

shareholders, the formation 

of a new company, with the 

aim of giving the existing 

company a fresh start. 

Each category must be paid in full before the next group receives any payment whatsoever.Thus, 

all preferential debts must be paid before creditors with floating charges 

receive anything and they in turn must be fully settled before any payment is made to 

unsecured creditors. A company that is insolvent when it is wound up is unlikely to 

be able to pay the full amount due to all its creditors and classes of shareholders; some 

receive less than the amount due, and others receive nothing.Within the class, where 

the liquidator runs out of money, the debts abate equally, that is, each creditor or class 

of shareholder receives the same proportional payment. 


List the order of priority of repayment to parties with claims against a company 

on liquidation. 

A receiver may be appointed to enforce the terms of a secured debt if a company defaults 

in the payment of interest or capital when due, or behaves in a manner that threatens 

secured assets.The receiver takes control of the assets covered by the charge and realises 

them to provide funds to satisfy the terms of the loan. If the company remains solvent 

after the receivership is complete, management reverts to the directors. However, the 

appointment of a receiver is usually an indication that the company is failing and so 

liquidation, under the control of the liquidator, normally follows receivership. 

8 Capital reconstruction 

Liquidation is not the inevitable outcome of a company’s insolvency. It may be worthwhile 

to attempt to rescue the company by employing a capital reconstruction 

where the insolvency is due to specific, curable factors. For example, a company may 

have over-traded, and, if it is basically profitable, an injection of additional capital may 

save it.Alternatively, a company may need time and finance to cease the production of 

unprofitable lines and bring to the market new, profitable products. In these circumstances, 

meetings of creditors and members are called to consider the acceptance of 

variations in their rights.To be acceptable, the proposed reconstruction must be more 

attractive to all parties than the alternative of liquidation.




8.1 The variation of rights 

The objective of a reconstruction scheme is to enable the company to continue as a 

going concern by the removal of the burden of immediate debts, the attraction of 

additional funds and the creation of a viable financial structure.The reconstruction can 

be carried out by altering the rights of creditors and members in the existing 

company,or the activities of the old company may be taken over by a newly established 

corporate entity which accepts revised obligations to the old company’s creditors and 

members, with the old company being wound up or dissolved. 

It is possible to vary rights in a number of ways on reconstruction: 

The nature of the debt may be changed; for example, debentures may be converted 

to share capital or creditors to secured loans. 

The value of the liability may be changed; for example, the nominal value of ordinary 

shares, which are likely to be of little or no value on liquidation, can be 

greatly reduced, or creditors may agree to forgo part of their debt. 

The return on the debt may be varied.Trade creditors could be offered interest to 

delay their claims, or debenture holders given higher interest to extend the term 

of the debenture. 

A combination of the three points above can be applied. For example, 8 per cent 

debentures with a face value of £100,000 repayable in one year’s time may be 

cancelled in exchange for £75,000 ordinary shares of £1 each and £50,000 

debentures carrying 12 per cent interest and repayable in ten years’ time. 

The rights of creditors and members cannot be varied in an arbitrary manner; the 

Companies Act 2006 provides for meetings of all classes to be called and, if each of 

these approves of the proposed arrangement by a majority of at least 75 per cent, 

then, with the sanction of the court, it becomes binding on all the interested parties. 

The following is the balance sheet of File Ltd on 31 December 20Xl: 

£000 £000 

Fixed assets at written down value 180 

Goodwill 50 

Inventories 90 

Receivables 85 

175 

Payables 85 

Bank overdraft 40 

125 


280 

8 per cent secured debentures repayable 31 December 20X8 130 

150 


Accumulated loss –100 

150 

The company’s activities have been partially reorganised and a number of loss-making branches closed. It is 

forecast that profits will be made in the future, but reconstruction is necessary to enable the company to raise 

the further equity capital needed to complete the reorganisation The following scheme has been accepted by 

all interested parties:




1 The assets are to be written down to realistic current values: 

Fixed assets 

£000 

80 

Goodwill – 



2 The accumulated loss is to be eliminated. 

3 The existing 8 per cent debentures are to be cancelled. In return, the debenture holders are to receive 12 

per cent debentures with a nominal value of £90,000 together with 35,000 ordinary shares of £1 each 

fully paid. 

4 The payables are to be reduced by £25,000 and these suppliers agree, in return for an interest payment, to 

wait two years for their money. 

5 Each existing ordinary share of £1 is to be written down to two pence. The two pence shares are to be 

consolidated into shares with a nominal value of £1 each. The ordinary shareholders agree to subscribe in 

cash for 60,000 shares of £1 each at par. 

Required: 

(a) Prepare the Reconstruction Account of File Ltd to put the scheme into effect. 

(b) Prepare the Balance Sheet of File Ltd after the scheme has been given effect. 

Answers 

(a) Reconstruction account 

£000 £000 

Fixed assets (1) 100 8 per cent Debentures (3) 130 

Goodwill (1) 50 Payables (4) 25 

Inventories (1) 20 Ordinary shares (5) 245 

Receivables (1) 5 

Accumulated loss (2) 100 

12 per cent Debentures (3) 90 

Ordinary shares (for debenture holders) (3) 35 

Note 

400 400 

The number in brackets after each entry in the reconstruction account refers to the step in the reconstruction 

scheme given in the question. 

(b) Balance Sheet after Reconstruction 

£000 £000 

Fixed assets 

Current assets 

80 



Cash (W2) 

Non-current liabilities 

20 170 

250 

12 per cent debentures 90 

Payables deferred for two years 

Financed by: 

60 150 

100 

Ordinary share capital (W1) 100



Workings: 

W1 Ordinary share capital £000 

Issued to debenture holders 35 

Ordinary shareholders (reduced) 5 

Issued for cash 60 

100 

W2 Cash 

Overdraft –40 

Cash from issue of shares 60 

20 


8.2 Implementation of a scheme of reconstruction 

When a company is reconstructed, it is common to revalue the assets at realistic 

amounts and eliminate the debit balance on the income statement, if any.When the 

reconstruction does not involve the creation of a new company, a Reconstruction 

Account is opened to complete the bookkeeping double entries for the adjustments 

on reconstruction.This account is debited with reductions in the value of assets, the 

adverse income statement balance, and the creation of liabilities; it is credited with 

reductions in liabilities and increases in the value of assets. 

The corresponding entries are in the appropriate asset or liability account. 

InWorked Example 10.11, the amounts written off assets together with the removal 

of the accumulated loss were exactly balanced by adjustments to the claims from 

various providers of finance. The credit balance, which sometimes remains on the 

reconstruction account after the adjustments have been made, is a capital reserve and is 

shown in the balance sheet as part of equity. 

8.3 The evaluation of reconstruction schemes 

The providers of finance, when asked to participate in a scheme of reconstruction, 

should weigh the benefits they might obtain from its implementation with the alternative, 

which is usually liquidation.A first step in the review of any scheme is to consider 

the rights of each class on liquidation and reconstruction.The likely outcomes must be 

based on forecasts and so cannot be guaranteed as accurate but, because liquidation is 

more immediate, its results are open to less doubt. 

The timing of any prospective payments is also important when assessing the 

merits of a reconstruction scheme. For example, if the trade creditors were asked to 

wait a year before payment, they would expect some compensation for this delay. On 

liquidation, they would be paid in the near future and the cash received could be 

invested.To wait a year, they would require reimbursement of the interest forgone, 

plus perhaps an additional amount for the risk of leaving their money in a company 

that has been on the brink of failure.When the payment of sums of money is offered 

on different dates, an adjustment for interest is needed to enable comparison. For 

example, if funds can be invested at 10 per cent per annum and a creditor is offered 

the choice between £1,000 on immediate liquidation or £1,050 in one year’s time, 

liquidation is preferable since £1,000 could be invested for a year at 10 per cent to 

give £1,100 at the end of the year. 

Some of the costs and benefits associated with reconstruction schemes are intangible 

and hence difficult to quantify. They should be considered nevertheless. For 

example, a financial institution may wish to avoid unfavourable publicity that might 

result from putting a customer into liquidation, such as unemployment, and this 

should also be considered, together with the benefit of future custom that will come 

from the firm’s continued existence.




Sutherland Ltd is a private company. Three-quarters of the issued share capital is held by the directors or 

members of their families. The company’s draft balance sheet as at the end of 20X5 was as follows: 

Balance Sheet at 31 December 20X5 

£ £ 

Non-current assets 

Intangible assets: Development costs 85,000 

Goodwill 60,000 

Tangible assets: Land and buildings 270,000 


Plant and machinery 326,000 

741,000 

Inventories 426,000 

Receivables 

Current liabilities 

531,000 

957,000 

Payables 393,000 

Bank loans and overdrafts 687,000 

Net current liabilities 1,080,000 

Total assets less current liabilities 

Equity 

–123,000 

618,000 

Called up share capital (800,000 shares of £1 each) 800,000 

Share premium account 50,000 

Accumulated loss –232,000 

618,000 

Bank loans and overdrafts consist of a 10 per cent loan of £400,000 repayable in 20X6 carrying a fixed charge 

on the company’s land and buildings, and an unsecured overdraft of £287,000. 

The demand for the company’s products fell drastically in recent years, owing to the import of high quality, 

and cheaper, products from South-East Asia. The development costs appearing in the balance sheet above 

relate to a new product that has been perfected to a marketable stage and for which there is believed to be a 

strong demand. The costs have been properly capitalised in accordance with the provisions of IAS 38. The 

company is in urgent need of capital to meet existing liabilities and the necessary new investment in plant and 

working capital. 

A scheme for financial reorganisation has been drawn up for the consideration of shareholders and creditors. 

The terms are as follows: 

1 The shares of £1 each are to be written down to 20p per share and subsequently every five shares of 20p 

each are to be consolidated into one fully paid share of £1. 

2 The existing shareholders are to subscribe for a rights issue of two new £1 ordinary shares, at par, for every 

share held after the proposed reduction and consolidation. 

3 A major supplier agrees to exchange a debt of £180,000, included in payables, for 180,000 ordinary 

shares of £1 each fully paid. 

4 In full satisfaction of the £687,000 owing, the bank agrees to accept an immediate payment of £87,000 

and to consolidate the balance of £600,000 into a loan carrying interest of 13 per cent per annum 

repayable in five equal annual instalments commencing 31 December 20X7. The loan is to be secured by a 

fixed charge on the land and buildings and a floating charge on the company’s remaining assets.




5 The credit balance on share premium account and the accumulated loss and goodwill, considered 

valueless, are to be written off. 

The assets listed below are to be restated at the following amounts: 

Plant and machinery 

£ 

125,000 

Inventories 210,000 

Receivables 500,000 

Land and buildings 320,000 

A group of dissatisfied shareholders plan to oppose the scheme because: ‘We have to bear the whole burden of 

the reorganisation whereas the bank loses nothing.’ 

The company has received a cash offer of £1,120,000 for its fixed and current assets. 

Required: 

(a) The revised balance sheet of Sutherland Ltd at 1 January 20X6 giving effect to the proposed scheme for 

reorganising the company. 

(b) A report for the group of dissatisfied shareholders explaining whether they should accept or oppose the 

scheme. 

(c) A report for the bank explaining the matters to be taken into account in deciding whether it would be 

better to support the scheme or press for immediate liquidation of the company. 

Note 

Assume you are making the calculations and writing the reports on 1 January 20X6 and that no other changes occur. 

Answers 

Non-current assets 

Revised Balance Sheet at 1 January 20X6 

£000 £000 

Intangible assets: Development costs 85 

Tangible assets: Land and buildings 320 



125 

530 

Inventories 210 


Bank balance (£320,000 – £87,000) 


233 

943 

Payables (£393,000 – £180,000) 213 

Net current assets 

Non-current liabilities 

730 

1,260 

13 per cent bank loan 

Equity 

600 

660 

Called up share capital 660 (W1) 

W1 Called up share capital: 

Original shares (reduced by 80 per cent) 160 

Rights issue 320 

Issued to major supplier 180 

660




(b) The report for shareholders should cover the following points: 

(i) The holders of ordinary shares own the equity of the company; they benefit from any increase in the 

value of the concern as the result of trading and must in turn bear the losses. 

(ii) If the company is liquidated, liabilities totalling £1,080,000 must first be met out of the cash offer. 

This leaves just £40,000 for the shareholders (ignoring liquidation expenses), which is far less than 

the nominal value of the shares allocated to them on reconstruction. 

(iii) The shareholders are required to make a substantial cash injection which they should do only if they 

are confident about the company’s future prospects. 

(iv) Provided prospects are sound, the shareholders will benefit from the reorganisation as they retain 

ownership of nearly three-quarters of the equity shares and this entitles them to a similar proportion 

of future profits. 

(v) Past losses are eliminated and so the company can pay dividends as soon as profits are made. 

(c) The report for the bank should cover the following points: 

(i) On liquidation, the bank would receive the full amount due as the cash offer exceeds total liabilities 

by a sum that is probably sufficient to meet liquidation expenses. 

(ii) If the scheme is given effect, the bank will receive £87,000 immediately, but the remaining 

£600,000 will be recovered over a five-year period. 

(iii) The bank will receive a higher interest rate and better security to help compensate for the need to wait 

longer for its money. 

(iv) The social and financial effects of liquidation, such as the loss of a customer and the associated 

publicity, must be assessed. 

(v) Adequate security should be arranged; a fixed charge on the land and buildings and a floating charge 

on the remaining assets would be appropriate. 

(vi) Prospects need to be sound for the bank to support the scheme. 


This chapter deals with procedures designed to ensure, 

as far as possible, that capital is maintained intact and, 

where a company gets into difficulties, the accounting 

and financial consequences of liquidating the company 

or undertaking a capital reconstruction in order to enable 

the organisation to continue in business. 

You need to achieve an understanding of the difference 

between accounting profit and distributable profit and be 

able to compute the latter in accordance with the relevant 

basic regulations. 

The accounting and financial consequences of a bonus 

issue of shares need to be understood. 

The circumstances in which a company is obliged to 

reduce its capital should be memorised. 

(a) In what circumstances is a capital reconstruction worthwhile? 

(b) Why would a creditor prefer repayment to be made immediately rather than in 

one year’s time? 

chapter summary 

You must be able to record the effect on the balance 

sheet of a redemption or repurchase of shares whether 

financed from the company’s existing cash resources, 

from a new issue of shares or from a combination of these 

two possibilities. 

A clear understanding of possible causes of business 

failure is expected, as is the impact of a succession of 

losses on a company’s financial position. 

You must be able to identify the resources available for 

distribution, on liquidation, and the order of priority of 

claims against the available resources. 

You should be able to prepare a scheme for capital 

reconstruction, be able to make appropriate adjustments 

to the business balance sheet and assess the rights of the 

various groups who are party to a reconstruction scheme.



practice questions 

10.1 

State the basic rule for the calculation of the profits available for distribution by limited companies. (4 marks) 


The liquidator of Errant Ltd has sold all of the company’s assets for £500,000 in cash. The financial obligations of the 

company are: 

Cost of liquidation 

£000 

60 

Preferential debts 40 

Debts with floating charges over all the assets of Errant Ltd 200 

Unsecured creditors 800 

Ordinary shareholders 500 

Required: 

Calculate how much is received by each class of creditor and shareholder, showing clearly the order of priority of 

payment. (4 marks) 


The summarised balance sheet of Restructure Ltd as at 31 December 20X4 is as follows: 

Balance Sheet 

£ 

Sundry assets 593,000 

Equity and liabilities 



Retained profit 293,000 

Equity 513,000 

10 per cent convertible debentures 80,000 

593,000 

The ordinary shares balance includes 70,000 redeemable shares of £1 each issued at par value. The balance of retained 

profit is legally available for distribution. 

Required: 

A series of revised balance sheets for restructure at 1 January 20X5 taking separate account of each of the following schemes 

under consideration by the directors. 

(a) The company makes a bonus issue to existing shareholders, at par, of one new ordinary share, fully paid, for every share 

presently held. (3 marks) 

(b) The company makes a rights issue of two new ordinary shares for every five shares presently held, at a price of 

£1.50 per share. (4 marks) 

(c) The debenture holders exercise their right to convert their loan stock into ordinary shares. The conversion is to be 

made at the rate of four ordinary shares for every £5 of debenture stock. The ordinary shares are currently valued 

at par. (4 marks) 

(d) The redeemable ordinary shares are redeemed at £1.60 per share. (4 marks) 

(e) The redeemable ordinary shares are redeemed at £1.60 per share. The company issues £20,000 8 per cent redeemable 

preference shares at par to help finance the redemption. (5 marks)




At a meeting between the directors and creditors of Eastgate Ltd held on 20 April 20X1, it was decided to liquidate that 

company. Certain facts and estimates were examined by the meeting. These included: 

(i) Balance Sheet of Eastgate Ltd at 19 April 20X1 

£000 £000 

Goodwill at cost 22,000 

Freehold property at cost 45,000 

Plant and machinery at cost less depreciation 48,000 

115,000 

Quoted investments (market value £16,000) 


12,000 

Inventories 108,000 

Receivables 


194,000 

302,000 


Bank overdraft 68,000 

277,000 

Working capital 25,000 

152,000 

12 per cent debenture 50,000 

102,000 

Share capital (£1 shares) 100,000 

Reserves at 31 December 20X0 70,000 

Loss for 20X1 to date –68,000 2,000 

102,000 

(ii) The following asset values were considered to be relevant in a liquidation: 


£ 

10,000 


Receivables 160,000 

There was significant disagreement regarding the likely value of freehold property. The majority accepted a valuation of 

£60,000 recently obtained from a firm of surveyors. A minority argued that, in view of development potential in the area 

where this property is located, a sale figure of £150,000 is likely to be much nearer the mark. 

(iii) Eastgate Ltd’s bank holds a fixed charge on the freehold property as security for the overdraft. 

(iv) Of the £209,000 payables, £57,000 was estimated as being preferential. 

(v) The debenture is secured by a floating charge over the assets of Eastgate Ltd, other than the freehold property. There are 

no arrears of debenture interest. 

(vi) Liquidation expenses are estimated at £6,000. 

Required: 

(a) Calculations of the amounts that would be received by each of the providers of finance, assuming that the majority view 

regarding the value of the freeholds is correct and that the other information proves accurate. You should show clearly 

the order of priority for repayment. (10 marks) 

(b) An indication of the effect on the findings under (a), if the minority view regarding the value of the freeholds proves to be 

correct. (10 marks) 

Note 

Ignore taxation.




The following draft balance sheet relates to the affairs of Gonedes Ltd at 31 December 20X2. 

Balance Sheet at 31 December 20X2 

£000 £000 

Tangible fixed assets 

Land and buildings 3,160 


Intangible assets 

4,040 7,200 

Goodwill 1,300 

Development expenditure 


750 2,050 

9,250 


Receivables 


1,700 

3,600 


Bank overdraft (unsecured) 1,100 

Bank loan (secured on land and buildings) 4,000 

6,920 

Net current liabilities (3,320) 

Total assets less current liabilities 

Equity 

(5,930) 

Called up share capital (£1 ordinary shares) 6,000 


Accumulated loss (2,070) 

(5,930) 

The company has made a succession of losses in recent years, but recent board changes and the development of a new 

product line are believed to have significantly improved the company’s future prospects. The following scheme for financial 

reorganisation has been prepared for the consideration of shareholders and creditors. The existing ordinary shares to be 

written down to 10p each and then consolidated into £1 shares. 

The existing shareholders to subscribe to a rights issue of three new shares at par for every one share held after making 

the changes set out in 1 above. 

The company’s major supplier has agreed to convert the amount outstanding, of £1,000,000, into fully paid ordinary 

shares issued at par. 

The bank requires immediate repayment of the overdraft but has agreed to convert the loan, presently repayable on 

demand into an advance carrying 10 per cent per annum interest and repayable in four equal annual instalments 

commencing 31 December 20X4. 

The balances on the share premium account, accumulated loss and goodwill account (considered valueless) to be 

written off. 

Development expenditure to be written off. 

The remaining assets to be restated at the following fair values. 

Land and buildings 

£000 

3,320 

Plant and machinery 1,000 


Receivables 1,700



Some of the existing shareholders plan to oppose the scheme on the grounds that ‘We are being expected to suffer the entire 

burden of past losses’. They believe that they would be better off accepting a cash offer of £7,000,000 that has been received 

from a competitor for all the company’s assets. 

Required: 

(a) The revised balance sheet of Gonedes Ltd as at 31 December 20X2, giving effect to the scheme for reorganisation 

outlined above. (10 marks) 

(b) A report for the shareholders explaining whether or not they should support the scheme. (10 marks) 

Note 

Ignore taxation.

10 Capital reduction, reorganisation and reconstruction - ICSA

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