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How Do Firms Implement Impairment Tests of Goodwill?

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  • CHRISTIAN PETERSEN
  • THOMAS PLENBORG

Abstract

This study seeks first to examine how firms implement impairment tests as required by IAS 36, and second, to explore factors which may explain why some firms are not entirely in compliance with IAS 36. It is based on a survey which includes 58 completed questionnaires representing 73% of the firms on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange that recognize goodwill on the balance sheet. The findings imply a variety in the application of IAS 36. Based on our analysis, it is difficult to determine whether this simply indicates that firms adopt an approach suited to their organizational and economic structures, or if it reveals that firms are uncertain as how to apply the standard. Our analysis further indicates inconsistencies in the implementation of IAS 36. This includes both how firms define a CGU and how they estimate the recoverable amount. Further, multivariate analysis reveals that the inconsistencies detected here are less likely in firms that systematize the procedures for impairment testing and use persons with considerable valuation experience. The findings should be of interest to a number of parties including firms, financial advisers, auditors, standard setters and users of financial statements.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Petersen & Thomas Plenborg, 2010. "How Do Firms Implement Impairment Tests of Goodwill?," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 46(4), pages 419-446, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:abacus:v:46:y:2010:i:4:p:419-446
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/j.1467-6281.2010.00326.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Henning, SL & Lewis, BL & Shaw, WH, 2000. "Valuation of the components of purchased goodwill," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(2), pages 375-386.
    2. Martin Bugeja & Natalie Gallery, 2006. "Is older goodwill value relevant?," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 46(4), pages 519-535, December.
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    Cited by:

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    2. André, Paul & Filip, Andrei & Paugam, Luc, 2013. "Impact of Mandatory IFRS Adoption on Conditional Conservatism in Europe," ESSEC Working Papers WP1311, ESSEC Research Center, ESSEC Business School.
    3. Kaiss Sarra & Nezha Baghar & Mounime El Kabbouri, 2018. "Goodwill and Performance," Journal of Applied Finance & Banking, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 8(3), pages 1-2.
    4. Alain Schatt & Leonidas Doukakis & Corinne Bessieux-Ollier & Elisabeth Walliser, 2016. "Do Goodwill Impairments by European Firms Provide Useful Information to Investors?," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(3), pages 307-327, September.
    5. Andrei Filip & Gerald J. Lobo & Luc Paugam, 2021. "Managerial discretion to delay the recognition of goodwill impairment: The role of enforcement," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(1-2), pages 36-69, January.
    6. Jennergren, L. Peter, 2011. "Value Driver Formulas for Continuing Value in the Discounted Cash Flow Model," SSE/EFI Working Paper Series in Business Administration 2011:5, Stockholm School of Economics, revised 30 May 2012.
    7. Luc Paugam & Olivier Ramond, 2015. "Effect of Impairment-Testing Disclosures on the Cost of Equity Capital," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(5-6), pages 583-618, June.
    8. Gérald Lobo & Luc Paugam & Lana Zhang & Jean-François Casta, 2013. "Effect Of Joint Auditor Pair On Conserv A Tism: Evidence From Impairment Tests," Post-Print hal-00993007, HAL.
    9. Paul André & Andrei Filip & Luc Paugam, 2015. "The Effect of Mandatory IFRS Adoption on Conditional Conservatism in Europe," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(3-4), pages 482-514, April.
    10. Begoña Giner & Francisca Pardo, 2015. "How Ethical are Managers’ Goodwill Impairment Decisions in Spanish-Listed Firms?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(1), pages 21-40, November.
    11. Hamberg, Mattias & Beisland, Leif-Atle, 2014. "Changes in the value relevance of goodwill accounting following the adoption of IFRS 3," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 59-73.
    12. Luc Paugam & Jean‐François Casta & Hervé Stolowy, 2018. "Non‐additivity in Accounting Valuation: Theory and Applications," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 54(3), pages 381-416, September.
    13. Durocher, Sylvain & Georgiou, Omiros, 2022. "Framing accounting for goodwill: Intractable controversies between users and standard setters," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    14. Gaëlle Lenormand & Lionel Touchais, 2014. "Le test de perte de valeur avec l’IAS 36 : difficultés et risques," Post-Print hal-01737388, HAL.
    15. Roncagliolo, Elisa & Avallone, Francesco, 2022. "Recognition of provisional goodwill: Real need or communication strategy?," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    16. Gaëlle Lenormand & Lionel Touchais, 2014. "Le test de perte de valeur avec l'IAS 36 : difficultés et risques Le cas du groupe PSA," Post-Print hal-03125451, HAL.
    17. Bagna, Emanuel & Ramusino, Enrico Cotta & Ogliari, Matteo, 2023. "The impact of different goodwill accounting methods on stock prices: A comparison of amortization and impairment-only methodologies," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    18. Mazzi, Francesco & Slack, Richard & Tsalavoutas, Ioannis, 2018. "The effect of corruption and culture on mandatory disclosure compliance levels: Goodwill reporting in Europe," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 52-73.
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    20. Anantharaman, Divya, 2015. "Understanding the evolution of SFAS 141 and 142: An analysis of comment letters," Research in Accounting Regulation, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 99-110.

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