Issue of Debentures as Security

Debentures are a liability or debt instrument which companies and government use to issue loans. They issue it to corporates according to their reputation at a constant rate of interest. Hence, debentures are also the bonds which serve as an IOU between the issuer and buyer. In this article, we will look at the treatment and aspects of the issue of debentures as collateral security.

Issue of Debentures as Collateral Security

There are certain conditions when a company does not have enough funds to pay back its loan amount. In such situations, they generally end up providing or issuing debentures. Hence, such issuing of debentures is like collateral security for the primary debt or loan.

Collateral signifies secondary. Hence, collateral security refers to helping security for a loan. In case, the borrower fails to pay the primary loan amount on the due date, the lender can sell the collateral security to recover the amount of loan. Generally, the borrower gives a single asset or a group of assets as collateral security.

When he fails to pay the loan, then the lender sells these securities to recover the amount. However, in some cases, a company might issue its own debentures as collateral security for a loan. When they pay the loan on the due date, the lender immediately releases or returns the main security and debentures.

In a case where the company does not repay the loan and interest on the due date then the lender becomes the owner of these debentures. Thus, now he can exercise all the rights of a debenture holder. But he is provided interest only on loan, not on debentures.

Browse more Topics under Introduction To Company Accounts

• Basic Concepts of Company Accounts
• Issue of Shares for Cash
• Issue of Shares for Consideration
• Under and Over Subscription
• Calls-in-Advance
• Calls-in-Arrears
• Issue of Shares to Promoters
• Forfeiture of Shares
• Reissue of Shares
• Issue of Debentures
• Issue of Preference Shares
• Capital Redemption Reserve Account

Accounting Treatment

There are two treatments of issuing debentures as collateral security in the accounting books:

1. First Method

Company does not make any journal entry in the account books at the time of issue of these debentures. A note is attached below the loan on the liabilities side of the balance sheet. It will state the fact that they have been secured by the issue of debentures.

2. Second Method

Sometimes the issue of debentures as collateral security is shown by making the following journal entry:

Journal

Date	Particulars	L.F.	Amount Dr.	Amount Cr.
	Debentures Suspense A/c                            Dr.		XXX
	To Debentures A/c			XXX
	(Being the value be nominal)

The ‘Debentures Suspense’ Account will be present on the assets side of the balance sheet whereas Debentures on the liabilities side.

Solved Question For You

Question: Verma Ltd. takes a loan from Oriental Bank of Commerce of Rs.20,00,000. It gives 11%% First Mortgage Debentures of face value ₹100 each of ₹3000000 as collateral security. Show the accounting treatment using the first method.

Solution: The company will show the treatment in the ‘Notes to Accounts’ of Balance Sheet in the following way:

Notes to Accounts of Verma Ltd. as at…(date)

Long-term Borrowings	Amount
Secured Loan
State Bank of India	20,00,000
(Collaterally secured by the issue of ₹7000000 11% First Mortgage Debentures)

Note: In case the question asks for the Journal entry according to the Second Method, then pass the following Journal entry:

Date	Particulars		Amount (Dr.)	Amount (Cr.)
	Debentures Suspense A/c	Dr.	30,00,000
	To 11% First Mortgage Debentures A/c	Cr.		30,00,000
	(Being issue of ₹30,00,000, 11% First Mortgage Debentures as collateral security as per Board’s Resolution no…dated…)