#71- Automotive Giant, General Motor- Going Concern Issue

America automotive giant, General Motor has highlighted in its earning release section that the Company anticipates receiving a “going concern” opinion from its auditor, Deloitte & Touche. The General Motor’s management has to determine whether there is substantial doubt about General Motor’s ability to continue as a going concern.

IAS 1 states that: “when preparing financial statements, management shall make an assessment of an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. Financial statements shall be prepared on a going concern basis unless management either intends to liquidate the entity or to cease trading, or has no realistic alternative but to do so. When management is aware, in making its assessment, of material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt upon the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, those uncertainties shall be disclosed. When financial statements are not prepared on a going concern basis, that fact shall be disclosed, together with the basis on which the financial statements are prepared and the reason why the entity is not regarded as a going concern.”

General Motor's businesses are severely affected by the recent market downturn and its financial results have dropped drastically. The outlook for the global automotive industry remains gloomy and pessimistic. The Company is actively looking for funding, including request for additional fund from Treasury department of United States.

IAS 1 further required that: “In assessing whether the going concern assumption is appropriate, management takes into account all available information about the future, which is at least, but is not limited to, twelve months from the balance sheet date. The degree of consideration depends on the facts in each case. When an entity has a history of profitable operations and ready access to financial resources, a conclusion that the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate may be reached without detailed analysis. In other cases, management may need to consider a wide range of factors relating to current and expected profitability, debt repayment schedules and potential sources of replacement financing before it can satisfy itself that the going concern basis is appropriate.”