Equity

1. Law

A legal system that resolves disputes between persons by resort to principles of fairness and justness.

2.

The capital of a firm invested by those accepting the greatest degree of risk, for example the holders of ordinary shares (also known as common stock or common equity) in a company.

3.

Securities representing the rights of the risk capital investors in 2. above.

4. Financial reporting.

Amounts in the financial report of a company representing the book value of the interests of the shareholders in 2. above.

It includes share capital, cumulative retained profits, and other reserves.

It is also known as 'total equity' or 'shareholders' funds'.

The book value of total equity is equal to the book value of the company's net assets.

5. Financial reporting.

Comparable amounts for financial reporting entities that are not companies.

6.

The net value of an asset, after deducting any debt relating to it or secured on it.

For example, the value of a residential property, after deducting the amount of a mortgage borrowing secured on it.

If the value of the borrowing exceeds the value of the asset, the situation can be described as 'negative equity'.

See also

• An introduction to equity capital
• Assets
• Blue chip
• Book value
• Capital employed
• Capital structure
• Common equity
• Common law
• Common stock
• Compound instrument
• Debt
• Debt for equity swap
• Dividend growth model
• Entity
• Equity cost of capital
• Equity instrument
• Equity investments
• Equity risk
• Equity structured deposit
• Equity swap
• Kay Review
• Liabilities
• Liabilities and equity
• Market/book ratio
• Mezzanine
• Mortgage
• Net worth
• Ordinary shares
• Own funds
• Private equity
• Reporting entity
• Reserves
• Return on equity
• Risk
• Share
• Share capital
• Shareholders’ funds
• Statement of changes in equity
• Stock
• Total Loss Absorbing Capacity
• Total return swap