Goodwill and accounting discretion. Evidence from Italy Abstract Purpose: The aim of the paper is to investigate earnings management practices related to goodwill accounting, focusing on its first recognition as well as its write-offs, due to the impairment test. Design/methodology/approach: The study refers to a sample of Italian listed firms and the analysis covers three years, with a total of 591 firm-year observations. The modified Jones’ regression model has been used in estimating discretionary accruals, as a proxy of earnings management practices. Findings: A positive relationship between discretionary accruals and yearly changes in goodwill has been proved. Findings also show an incidence of leverage and performance. Research limitations/implications: …show more content…
In fact, several accounting treatments have been suggested over the years: immediate write off against reserves; capitalisation and subsequent amortisation over a predefined period; capitalisation with the annual impairment test (Alves 2013). Focusing on FASB’s as well as IASB’s pronouncements, the following table summarises the evolution of these accounting treatments. Table 1: Key developments concerning goodwill accounting Period Standard setter Standard Key developments 1970 APB (USA) Opinion no. 17 Amortisation of goodwill over a period not exceeding 40 years 1983 IASB IAS 22 Amortisation of goodwill over a period not exceeding 20 years (also permitting to charge goodwill to equity at the acquisition date) 1993 IASB IAS 22 revised Charging goodwill to equity at the acquisition date is not longer permitted 1999 FASB (USA) ED Proposal of shorten the maximum amortisation goodwill period from 40 to 20 years 2001 FASB (USA) SFAS 141/142 The pooling-of-interest method is abolished. Amortisation of goodwill is prohibited, requiring a regular impairment test 2004 IASB IFRS 3 Alignment with US GAAP (introduction of impairment test ending …show more content…
The main reason why standard setters decided to substitute amortisation with impairment is that the first approach is expected to be based on an arbitrary time period, failing to provide useful information to the users of financial statements (Jennings et al. 2001; Moehrle et al. 2001): requiring amortisation of a fixed amount of goodwill every year implicitly requires that goodwill decreases on a systematic basis, but this is not necessarily the case. Accordingly – and focusing on the IASB’s pronouncements – the IFRS 3: • Replaces the IAS 22, opting for the purchase method to be accounted business combinations and requiring goodwill (acquired individually or in a business combination) to be recognized as an
If the 5-year amortization were applied in its place of the 40-year timetable, then it is necessary for Blockbuster to identify the goodwill in larger amounts. This would increase tax liability of Blockbuster, which would have represented a loss of $0.09 (0.58 - 0.49) per share
Goodwill is not amortised. Instead, goodwill is tested for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it might be impaired, and is carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Gains and losses on the disposal of an entity include the carrying amount of goodwill relating to the entity sold.For the purposes of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to each of the Group 's cash-generating units (CGUs), or groups of CGUs, expected to benefit from the synergies of the business combination. CGUs (or groups of CGUs) to which goodwill has been allocated are tested for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill might be impaired.If the recoverable amount of the CGU (or groups of CGUs) is less than the carrying amount of the CGU (or groups of CGUs), the impairment loss is allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the CGU (or groups
When analysts question a firm’s earnings quality, it raises concerns regarding under or over aggressive accounting practices that may be allowing the firm to manipulate the earnings. Earnings quality is defined as the strength of the current earnings in being used to predict future earnings and cash flows. Since earning quality is indicative of future performance, analysts are more likely to address issues that have substantial impact on the earnings quality. An issue arises when the nature of the earnings is questioned. While permanent earnings are part of normal operations, any irregular, one time earnings can skew the earnings, making the firm look more profitable than it is. This is due to the inability to recreate similar one-time transactions that will give rise to such numbers. Investors prefer predictable
Since 2001, amortization would not permitted for goodwill assets. Instead write-down of goodwill entity with continuous losses must be done.
4. The accounting for income taxes will have to be revised. Pam suggests that the first entry be reversed and a new one be set up. Pam also was informed by Linda Durkee that purchased goodwill could be amortized over 15 years and was deductible for income tax purposes. Consequently, Hydromaint has elected to amortize goodwill over 15 years.
(1) Performed a key word search using goodwill, amortized. I scrolled down to section 35 subsequent measurement of topic 350 Intangibles- Goodwill and other.
The standard statements focus on accounting income for the entire corporation, not cash flows, and the two can be quite different during any given accounting period. However, for valuation purposes we need to discount cash flows, not accounting income. Moreover, since many firms have a number of separate divisions, and since division managers should be compensated on their divisions' performance, not that of the entire firm, information that focuses on the divisions is needed. These factors have led to the development of information that
Depreciation and depletion are two models of computing financial reports. These techniques are used as adjustments when preparing statements of cash flow within the direct or indirect method. This paper will identify and examine the methods of depreciation and depletion, describe the difference between the methods, and compare and contrast depreciation and depletion as well using scholarly references to support the points.
Goodwill is an intangible asset for which the accounting methods are pronounced by FASB issued _SFAS No. 142_, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets." Goodwill is an earning power concept in which its value is an approximation equal to the discounted present value of future earnings that would exceed normal industry earnings. Goodwill is recognized as an intangible asset when it is acquired through a purchase of an existing company. Its value is determined by the excess of the total fair value above the fair value of distinguishable net assets. Amortization of goodwill is
Goodwill is evaluated for impairment at least annually. They are evaluated more frequently if circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The
Goodwill impairment refers to the adjustment of the goodwill value, with respect to the value at the time it is original’s recognition. Goodwill impairment usually occurs when the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds its fair market value. What it comes down to is that goodwill impairment usually occurs as a consequence of a decreased brand value, or negative market information about a company or the need to adjust value of overpaid assets that were acquired in the past (www.fool.com).
However, the tax basis of other amortizable, which was acquired in the same transaction, would be adjusted; that means the bases of the other intangible must be increased from the basis of the disposed intangible amount. Although, a taxpayer shall not recognize an immediate loss of the entire amount of the worthless intangible, the impairment of the intangible would be recognized over its remaining amortizable lives by increasing the bases of the other associated amortizable intangible. Continuing with the previous example, assuming that on December 31, 2007, Sara deemed goodwill to have a zero value. Consequently, Sara should increase the basis of going concern value by $24000, resulting in an adjusted basis of $60,000. Thus, the worthless goodwill amount continues to be amortized without any change to either the amount of amortization or the period of amortization. The only change that the amortization would be under the guise of another related intangible. On the other hand, if the worthless intangible were the only amortizable section 197 intangible acquired in the transaction, it could be written off, since there would be no basis to adjust of another existent amortizable section 197 intangible from that same purchase
Information based on accrual accounting has historically and empirically provided a better indication of a company’s ability to generate cash flows than information gathered under the cash method. If there is not inter-period allocation, then the information is not as meaningful and will result in a mismatching of economic benefits
Nowadays, as our economy is facing possible everyday crises, managers undergo an increasing pressure in order to keep their company 's earnings stable. Shareholders and analysts expect companies to meet forecasted goals and not to deviate from these. Especially, reliable companies are to report positive results and shall not present any 'surprises '. Managers therefore often turn to their accounting departments for help, whose job it then is to improve the bottom line by changing the information shown in financial
Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are carried at cost less accumulated amortization and adjusted for