Original: Furthermore , banks and other , large financial-institutions were reluctant to accept lower prices for these assets , since lower prices would force them to recalculate the total value of their assets , and , if the loss was sufficiently large , force them to declare a negative total value .
Simplified: Banks and other , major financial-institutions were unwilling to sell the assets at significantly reduced prices , since lower prices would force them to significantly reduce their stated assets , making them appear insolvent .