What is Adjusted Book Value?

Book value, also known as theoretical book value, is a valuation process in which the total assets that a company has are deducted from intangible assets and liabilities. 

Adjusted Book Value, also known as modified book value, measures the net value of a company after liabilities and assets have been adjusted to reflect fair market value. The adjustment done to liabilities and assets can either be to increase of reduce their values with the aim of showing their fair market value. 

How is Adjusted Book Value Used?

Theoretical book value are realized when a company's assets are deducted from its liabilities and intangible assets. This value is realized by removing active from passive which accounts for the net value of a company. The adjusted book value is however different from the above valuation method, it accounts for extra accounting induces that are not captured in the theoretical book valuation method. When used as a business valuation method, the adjustment book value is one in which the value of assets and liabilities is increased or decreased to reflect their fair market value.

How to calculate the adjusted book value

The formula for calculating the adjusted book value is; Adjusted book value = adjusted asset - adjusted liability The word adjusted as used in this calculation can either increase or decrease. So, it is possible to have Adjusted book value = adjusted (increased) asset - adjusted (increased) liability or otherwise. Hence, there is no rigid formula in calculating the adjustment book value of a firm. Analysts determine the how the adjusted book value of a firm will be calculated. For example, an analyst can decrease the value of a firms liability if the value of the company's debts is lower than what is reflected in the balance and vice versa.

Example of calculation of the adjusted book value

The illustration below will give better clarification to how analysts calculate the adjusted book value of a firm. If the value of short-term investments a firm holds goes from $49,662,000 to $40,000,000 and has a net outstanding of $49,899,000 as against the $50,899,000 it had earlier. It also has an intangible asset that increase from a value of $2,149,000 to $5,350,000. The total assets however go from worth of $406,794,000 to the value of $399,333,000, the adjusted book value will be calculated as; Adjusted book value= 399,333,000 - 266,595,000 = 132,738,000.

Related Topics

• Managerial Accounting
• Institute of Management Accountants
• Annual Report
• Certified Financial Statement
• Common Size Financial Statement
• Accounting Personnel in an Organization
• Comptroller vs Controller 
• Financial Statement Analysis
• Cost Accounting
• Operating Income
• Profit Margin  
• Paid in Capital
• Retained Cash Flow
• Book Value (Company)
• Adjusted Book Value
• Book Value (Asset)
• Accounting Insolvency