Meaning of share capital
Share capital is the amount invested by a company’s shareholders for use in business operations. After the company’s creation, the shareholders bring in the contribution through cash or in-kind which is shown on the balance sheet on the liability side as an equity account.
Share capital is also called shareholders’ capital, equity capital, contributed capital, or paid-in capital.
Share capital is the primary item of interest in the balance sheet. It is further divided into various kinds as common stock and preferred stock. The paid value is represented on the balance sheet.
A share capital account is not normally considered a significant account from an audit perspective since the risk is less significant than other accounts. This is also because this account is the result of others’ balance sheet and income statement accounts.
The primary procedures used by auditors are the inspection of the article of association, board of directors’ meeting minutes, an inspection of cash or in-kind injection of capital, as well as a review of the correct classification of subaccount in the shares capital.
Audit Assertions for Share capital
If the company shows equity on the balance sheet, it asserts that it exists on the balance sheet date and that related transactions with equity have been made.
For example, if equity is issued, then certain cash would be received at the other end. The double-entry bookkeeping system keeps cash and equity share capital in check over here.
The share capital has certain rights and obligations. Take, for example, common share capital has rights over retained earnings while preferred share capital has a preference to be paid a dividend before the dividend is paid to equity shareholders. Preference shareholders enjoy priority over equity shareholders.
Both these equity share capital and preference share capital are different classifications of share capital, which again is a separate assertion.
Further, preference share capital is further divided into contributing, participating, non-participating, non-contributing, and further sub-classifications.
As of the reporting date, the firm’s management and shareholders are subject to share capital assertions as per applicable auditing and accounting standards.
This would include disclosures of the company’s existence, rights, and obligations and maintenance of the records of share capital. The following are major audit assertions related to sharing capital.
| Existence | Ensuring that reported capital exists on the date of reporting |
| Completeness | The nature and types of share capital transactions that have been issued should be recorded. |
| Valuation | Share capital is recorded in line with applicable accounting standards. |
| Present and disclosure | Applicable accounting standards disclose appropriate information about share capital. |
Primary risks of share capital
The risks associated with share capital have decreased with the advent of the digital mechanism of the share issues and other related aspects.
Hardly, the big publicly listed companies have share-related issues. However, the risk of error in a presentation on the balance sheet may happen as a result of accounting mistakes.
When equity share capital is overstated, the balance sheet is strong. Hence, primary risks for equity share capital would be misrepresentation in the balance as a result of error and intentional overstatement that does happen in the case of entities other than corporate forms.
Substantive audit procedures for Share capital
These are the extensive audit procedures needed when a large sum of money is involved in the accounts.
The number of transactions in share capital is minimal and the amount involved is major compared to the balance sheet.
Hence, auditors shall apply substantive procedures as:
| Assertions | Substantive audit procedures |
| Existence | Verification with a certificate of incorporation, articles of association, and a Memorandum of association. We are matching the balances with SEC/relevant authority filings. |
| Completeness | Verification of authorized and issued share capital with supporting documents like bylaws, AOA, and others.Reconciliation of share capital balances with SEC and other filings and general ledger prepared by the company. |
| Valuation | Matching those share capital transactions has occurred in line with board meetings. Reconciliation of share capital receipts with escrow account along with paid-up capital portion, treasury portion, and amount of refunds share capital has been issued in lieu of fixed asset or for some other arrangement, ensuring that exchanged assets are properly valued and take professional experts to help if necessary. |
| Presentation and disclosure | Ensuring the following items are disclosed in the financial statements as Classes of share capital rights related to each class of share capital authorized share capital and issued share capital. Share capital with conversion rights or options adjustment required in comprehensive income. |
In a nutshell, substantive audit procedures for share capital would include summarizing and reviewing all the equity-related transactions, their proper classifications, reconciliation of the opening balances to the balance as of the reporting date, and further reviewing disclosure for compliance by the applicable financial framework.
FAQs:
Where is the share capital of the company disclosed?
The share capital of the company or corporation discloses in the balance sheet under the equity section, in the statement of change in equity, and in the mote to share capital of the company financial statements. In the notes to the share capital, you will find certain information including the class of share, registered share, issued shares, the interest of each shareholder, par value of the share, and share premium.
