Kapitalnedsættelse

Kapitalnedsættelse, or capital reduction, is a process in corporate finance where a company reduces its share capital. This can be achieved through various methods, such as cancelling shares, reducing the nominal value of existing shares, or repaying share capital to shareholders. The primary reasons for undertaking a capital reduction typically involve returning excess capital to shareholders, offsetting accumulated losses, or restructuring the company's balance sheet.

A key aspect of capital reduction is that it alters the company's equity structure. It can lead to a decrease in the number of outstanding shares or a reduction in the stated value of each share. For shareholders, a capital reduction might result in receiving cash or other assets back from the company, or simply a lower book value per share.

The process of capital reduction is subject to legal and regulatory requirements, often involving shareholder approval and potentially court sanction depending on the jurisdiction and the method employed. Companies must ensure that the reduction is fair to all stakeholders and does not prejudice creditors. This process is distinct from a share buyback, although both can result in returning capital to shareholders. A capital reduction is a more formal and permanent alteration of the company's share capital.