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Goodwill Impairment Report

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Amortization Versus Impairment of Goodwill: Impact on Accounting Quality, Financial Statements’ Economic Value, Investors, and Auditors Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) replaced all U.S. financial accounting standards in July 2009. Consequently, ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other, replaced SFAS 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets in September 2011. Under ASC 350, goodwill must be periodically tested for impairment. Goodwill impairment is determined through the standard detailing a two-step process. However, in January 2014, ASC 350 was updated by authorizing an alternative method of accounting for goodwill servicing private companies that could consequently reduce their costs and simplify their accounting methods. Additionally, …show more content…

However, this impairment test is only required if the fair value of the reporting unit is less then the carrying amount of the unit. Therefore, if after computing the fair value of the reporting unit, the firm discovers that it is less than the unit’s carrying value, the firm must complete the two-step goodwill impairment test (“ASC 2011-08 Topic 350” 1-2). Additionally, a firm may evaluate qualitative aspects to determine whether there is a more than a 50 percent chance that the fair value of a reporting unit, including goodwill, is less than the unit’s carrying amount. These qualitative factors include macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, and overall financial performance. However, a firm can reject conducting the qualitative analysis and initiate the two-step goodwill impairment test if it so …show more content…

The research specifically examined firms’ when SFAS 142 (today ASC 350) required companies to conduct goodwill impairment testing. Goodwill impairment testing detailed under the U.S. FASB and international IASB revealed that goodwill impairment testing under both bodies can illustrate firms’ economic conductions and that managers are precise in working to decrease costs associated with contracting (Godfrey and Koh 117). The authors further explain that their findings are in support of those who believe that the phenomenon of goodwill impairment testing required through the introduction of SFAS 142 (now ASC 350) are “a means of providing information relevant to users of financial statements. These findings are supplemented by evidence that the amount of goodwill written off is associated with firm size and leverage” (Godfrey and Koh 138). Consequently, this could be linked to the study concluding that investors view recognition of goodwill impairment as a indicator of decreased financial health for a firm and consequently, greater risk as an investment. Therefore, these companies underperformed when they publicly announced their respective recognition of goodwill impairment. This study illustrates how the goodwill testing system under the FASB and IASB provides useful information to investors promoting intelligent investing decisions based on the economic

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