Managers Discretion in Goodwill Impairment Testing
Introduction The transition to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) since 1 January 2005 has changed accounting treatment for goodwill in Australia. Prior 2005, goodwill and other intangible assets were amortized over a period not in excess of 20 years. However, International Accounting Standard Board (IASB) has been issuing a new concept in order to replace amortization of goodwill. Instead, companies should do an impairment testing based on International Accounting Standard (IAS) 36 which is adopted in Australian Accounting Standard Board (AASB) 136. According to AASB 136 an entity should ensure that assets are carried at no more than their recoverable amount, therefore at the end of each reporting period, an entity is required to assess whether there is any indication that an asset may be impaired. An impairment loss is recognised whenever recoverable amount is below carrying amount. The recoverable amount is defined as the higher value of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. Further, paragraph 25 and 30 AASB 136 describes some elements should be considered in the calculation of fair value and value in use, including an estimate of the future cash flows. The fundamental of IFRS which based upon principles rather than hard set rules has provided management to use their discretionary authority in applying application of the standards, including goodwill impairment testing (Dumont, 2015). Harris
“A long-lived asset (asset group) shall be tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable.”
Goodwill is considered impaired when the implied fair value of goodwill in a reporting unit of a company is less than its carrying amount, or book value, including any deferred income taxes. By qualitative factors, if the fair value is less than its book value (likelihood more than 50%), two step of the goodwill impairment test is necessary. According to ASC 350-20-35-2 and 3(A&B&D), if the company determines that it is not more likely than not that fair value is less than the book value, it does
of CGUs) and then to the other assets in the CGU (or groups of CGUs) pro-rata on the basis of the carrying amount of each asset in the CGU (or groups of CGUs). An impairment loss recognised for goodwill is recognised immediately in profit or
25-7 If a loss cannot be accrued in the period when ti is probable that an asset had been impaired or a liability had been incurred because the amount of loss cannot be reasonable estimated, the loss shall be charged to the income of the period in which the loss can be reasonably estimated and shall not be charged retroactively to an earlier period. All estimated losses for loss contingencies shall be charged to income rather than charging some to income and others to retained earnings as prior period adjustments.”
If their stock price dropped to ZERO, an impairment would not be required because they are comparing the market price of their stock to their carrying amount of stockholder’s equity, which in a deficit. Also, the Company is anticipating those assets to produce future benefits that exceed its costs.
Where explain the concept of Intangible asset, which represents assets that absence of physical substance. Moreover, Goodwill represents an asset from which is expected future economic benefits, emerge from the acquisition of other assets or business combination. Another important point would be the impartments testing as refers ASC 350-20-35-28 where indicates that Goodwill of reporting unit must be tested for impairment annually. The test can be accomplished at any time in the fiscal year. In the case of different reporting unit, the impairment test could be at different times. This citation in the memorandum was provided incorrect (ASC 305-20-35-1 and 28) this encoding does not exist in FASB.
Section 360-10-35-17 of the Code states that an impairment loss shall be recognized if the carrying value of a fixed asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The carrying value of the fixed asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and disposal of the asset. An impairment loss shall be measured by the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value.
As discussed above, if indicators of impairment exist for an asset (group) to be held and used, an entity determines whether the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows attributable to the asset (group) in question is less than its carrying amount. If those undiscounted cash flows are less than
Goodwill Impairment is the Goodwill that has become or is considered to be of lower value than at the time or purchase. From an accounting perspective, when the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds the fair value, then it is considered to be impaired. Negative publicity about a firm can create goodwill impairment, as can the reduction of brand-name recognition. Since the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) first introduced its standards update on testing for goodwill impairment (ASU 2011-08), entities with goodwill on their balance sheet have had the option when testing goodwill for impairment to first assess qualitative factors as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the traditional two-step approach described in ASC Topic 350. The optional qualitative assessment is commonly referred to as “step zero.”
ASC 320-10-35-35: “In periods after the recognition of an other-than-temporary impairment loss for debt securities, an entity shall account for the other-than-temporarily impaired debt security as if the debt security had
IAS 36-2 states the Impairment of Assets rule shall be applied in accounting for the impairment of all
An impairment loss shall be recognized only if the carrying amount of a long-lived asset (asset group) is
According to Section 360-10-35-21, examples of events that would cause an asset to be tested for impairment include a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset, or a asset group, a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which a long-lived asset or asset group is being used or in its physical condition, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate that could affect the value of a long-lived asset, or asset group, and a current period operating or cash flow loss combined with a history of operating or cash flow losses or a projection or forecast that demonstrates continuing losses associated with the use of a long-lived asset or asset group.
The authoritative guidance for asset impairment is to ensure that impairment is recorded and dealt with as depreciation. The scope of the standard is writing off of assets and depreciation. According to the guidance of 360-10-35, it address how long-lived assets that are intended to be held and used in an entity’s business shall be reviewed for impairment. The impairment loss can only be recognized if the carrying amount of a long-lived assets is not recoverable and
If these estimated undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying value of the asset, an impairment charge is recognized for the excess, if any, of the asset’s carrying value over its estimated fair value.