Quasi Reorganization
A quasi-reorganization is an accounting procedure that allows a company to eliminate a deficit in its retained earnings account without formally going through a legal reorganization process. This method essentially allows a company to “reset” its balance sheet, making it resemble that of a new organization.
A quasi-reorganization can be considered when a company has accumulated a substantial deficit in its retained earnings but believes that its future prospects are strong. This procedure is typically undertaken to clean up the balance sheet and present a more attractive picture to investors, creditors, and other stakeholders, even though the company hasn’t actually gone through bankruptcy or another formal reorganization process.
Key aspects of a quasi-reorganization include:
- Elimination of Deficit: The main aim is to eliminate a deficit in the retained earnings account. This is typically achieved by restating assets to their current values (if they’re below the book value) and offsetting the increased values against the retained earnings deficit. If assets are already overvalued, their values might be written down.
- Capital Adjustments: It may also involve restructuring the company’s capital, such as reducing the par or stated value of common stock and using the amount of the reduction to decrease the retained earnings deficit.
- Restated Financials: The balance sheet post quasi-reorganization will resemble that of a new company, though the company has not changed legally.
- Approval: The quasi-reorganization process generally requires the approval of the company’s shareholders.
- No Cash Involvement: Unlike a legal reorganization that might involve cash payments, a quasi-reorganization is primarily an accounting procedure.
- Future Profitability Expectation: It’s generally undertaken with the belief that the causes of past losses have been identified and addressed and that the company will be profitable in the future.
While a quasi-reorganization can give a fresh start to a company’s balance sheet, it doesn’t change the underlying economic realities of the company. Thus, it’s vital for stakeholders to understand the nature and implications of such an adjustment.
Example of a Quasi Reorganization
Let’s explore a fictitious example to better understand a quasi-reorganization:
Company A’s Financial Situation:
Company A has been facing a series of losses due to market changes and obsolete technology. Over the years, it has accumulated a deficit of $500,000 in its retained earnings account. However, the management has recently made some strategic changes, and they believe the company will be profitable in the future.
They’ve also identified that a piece of land on the balance sheet is undervalued by $400,000, and their machinery is overvalued by $100,000.
To present a cleaner balance sheet and remove the retained earnings deficit, Company A decides to undergo a quasi-reorganization.
Steps Taken:
- Restate Assets: Company A restates the value of the land, increasing it by $400,000. The machinery’s value is written down by $100,000.
- Eliminate Deficit: The net increase in assets ($400,000 from land – $100,000 from machinery = $300,000) is used to offset the retained earnings deficit. So, the deficit is reduced from $500,000 to $200,000.
- Capital Adjustments: Company A also decides to reduce the par value of its common stock. They have 200,000 shares with a par value of $5 each, totaling $1,000,000. They reduce the par value to $4, freeing up $200,000 (i.e., $1 reduction x 200,000 shares). This amount is then used to completely eliminate the remaining deficit in retained earnings.
After these steps, Company A’s balance sheet no longer shows a deficit in retained earnings. The asset values reflect the current market realities, and the par value of the common stock is adjusted.
Outcome:
Shareholders and potential investors now see a balance sheet without a deficit, possibly increasing their confidence in the company’s future prospects. It’s essential, however, for stakeholders to understand that while the balance sheet looks refreshed, the fundamental challenges the company faced and the changes management implemented are critical to the company’s future performance.
This example simplifies the complexities of a real-world quasi-reorganization, but it illustrates the core mechanics and the rationale behind such an undertaking.
