A reserve is an amount set aside from a company's profits for a specific purpose or to prepare for an unknown liability.
Reserves are usually created by a company's management to ensure that the company has adequate funds to meet its future obligations or to fund future projects. They can also be created to distribute profits to shareholders or to strengthen the company's financial position.
For example, a company may create a reserve for a known future obligation, such as a legal settlement or pension payment, by setting aside a portion of its profits each year to fund the obligation when it becomes due. Alternatively, a company may create a reserve for an unknown liability, such as a potential lawsuit or environmental cleanup, to ensure that it has sufficient funds available if the liability materializes.
Reserves can also be created for other purposes, such as to fund future expansion or investment projects, to distribute profits to shareholders, or to strengthen the company's financial position by building up its cash reserves.
In summary, a reserve is an amount set aside from a company's profits for a specific purpose or to prepare for an unknown liability, and is usually created by the company's management to ensure that the company has adequate funds to meet its future obligations or to fund future projects.