A dividend that a company owes to an investor but that is not paid currently. Dividends frequently accumulate for a fixed period (e.g., two years) to permit a company to retain cash to grow the business. Alternatively, dividends may be payable in full only in the event of a liquidity event (e.g., sale, IPO, or redemption) and accumulate until such time. Accumulated dividends are reflected on a company's balance sheet.