IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/hal/journl/hal-01277376.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Accounting for business combinations: Do purchase price allocations matter?

Author

Listed:
  • Luc Paugam

    (ESSEC Business School)

  • Pierre Astolfi

    (IRG - Institut de Recherche en Gestion - UPEM - Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée - UPEC UP12 - Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12)

  • Olivier Ramond

    (DRM - Dauphine Recherches en Management - Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

This study investigates the informativeness of purchase price allocations (PPAs) that involve fair value estimation of acquired assets and liabilities after a business combination. Using a model capturing the amount of goodwill expected after the initial announcement of an acquisition, we examine how allocation of abnormal levels of purchase price to goodwill (Abnormal Goodwill) affects stock price reaction surrounding the first disclosure of the PPA in SEC filings, and the acquirer's future performance. From a sample of 308 economically significant U.S. business combinations completed between 2002 and 2011, we document the following results: (1) Abnormal Goodwill is negatively associated with cumulative abnormal returns surrounding the first disclosure of the PPA, (2) there is a stronger negative reaction to Abnormal Goodwill for acquisitions that were already negatively received by market participants when initially announced than for acquisitions that were initially received positively, (3) the frequency and magnitude of goodwill impairment during the three years following completion of the acquisition increases as Abnormal Goodwill increases, and (4) future performance decreases as Abnormal Goodwill increases. Overall, our findings indicate that Abnormal Goodwill is informative regarding the quality of acquisitions. This study contributes to the debate on the usefulness of PPA.

Suggested Citation

  • Luc Paugam & Pierre Astolfi & Olivier Ramond, 2015. "Accounting for business combinations: Do purchase price allocations matter?," Post-Print hal-01277376, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01277376
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2015.04.003
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-01277376
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://hal.science/hal-01277376/document
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2015.04.003?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dunne, Kathleen M., 1990. "An empirical analysis of management's choice of accounting treatment for business combinations," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 111-133.
    2. Morck, Randall & Shleifer, Andrei & Vishny, Robert W, 1990. "Do Managerial Objectives Drive Bad Acquisitions?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 45(1), pages 31-48, March.
    3. Ray Ball, 2006. "International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS): pros and cons for investors," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(S1), pages 5-27.
    4. Ramanna, Karthik, 2008. "The implications of unverifiable fair-value accounting: Evidence from the political economy of goodwill accounting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(2-3), pages 253-281, August.
    5. Sohyung Kim & Cheol Lee & Sung Wook Yoon, 2013. "Goodwill accounting and asymmetric timeliness of earnings," Review of Accounting and Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 12(2), pages 112-129, May.
    6. Sudipta Basu & Gregory Waymire, 2008. "Has the importance of intangibles really grown? And if so, why?," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(3), pages 171-190.
    7. Holthausen, Robert W. & Watts, Ross L., 2001. "The relevance of the value-relevance literature for financial accounting standard setting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(1-3), pages 3-75, September.
    8. Denis, David J & Denis, Diane K & Sarin, Atulya, 1997. "Agency Problems, Equity Ownership, and Corporate Diversification," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 52(1), pages 135-160, March.
    9. Ron Shalev & Ivy Xiying Zhang & Yong Zhang, 2013. "CEO Compensation and Fair Value Accounting: Evidence from Purchase Price Allocation," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(4), pages 819-854, September.
    10. Basu, Sudipta, 1997. "The conservatism principle and the asymmetric timeliness of earnings," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 3-37, December.
    11. Francis, J & Hanna, JD & Vincent, L, 1996. "Causes and effects of discretionary asset write-offs," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34, pages 117-134.
    12. Stephen H. Penman, 2009. "Accounting for Intangible Assets: There is Also an Income Statement," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 45(3), pages 358-371, September.
    13. Lee, Cheol, 2011. "The effect of SFAS 142 on the ability of goodwill to predict future cash flows," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(3), pages 236-255, May.
    14. Chandra Kanodia & Haresh Sapra & Raghu Venugopalan, 2004. "Should Intangibles Be Measured: What Are the Economic Trade‐Offs?," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(1), pages 89-120, March.
    15. Roychowdhury, Sugata & Martin, Xiumin, 2013. "Understanding discretion in conservatism: An alternative viewpoint," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(2), pages 134-146.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. M. D. Beneish & C. R. Harvey & A. Tseng & P. Vorst, 2022. "Unpatented innovation and merger synergies," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 706-744, June.
    2. 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).
    3. Sunghee Ahn & Youngsoon S. Cheon & Moonchul Kim, 2020. "Determinants of initial goodwill overstatement in affiliated and non‐affiliated mergers," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(5-6), pages 587-614, May.
    4. Paul M. Healy, 2016. "Reflections on M&A accounting from AOL’s acquisition of Time Warner," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(5), pages 528-541, August.
    5. Bret A. Johnson & Ling Lei Lisic & Joon Seok Moon & Mengmeng Wang, 2023. "SEC comment letters on form S-4 and M&A accounting quality," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 28(2), pages 862-909, June.
    6. Anna Loyeung, 2019. "The role of boutique financial advisors in mergers and acquisitions," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 44(2), pages 212-247, May.
    7. Peter M. Johnson & Thomas J. Lopez & Trevor L. Sorensen, 2021. "Did SFAS 141/142 improve the market’s understanding of net assets, goodwill, or other intangible assets?," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 891-915, April.
    8. 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).
    9. Maciej Gierusz & Stanisław Hońko & Marzena Strojek-Filus & Katarzyna Świetla, 2022. "The Quality of Goodwill Disclosures and Impairment in the Financial Statements of Energy, Mining, and Fuel Sector Groups during the Pandemic Period—Evidence from Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-20, August.
    10. Francesco Mazzi & Paul André & Dionysia Dionysiou & Ioannis Tsalavoutas, 2017. "Compliance with goodwill-related mandatory disclosure requirements and the cost of equity capital," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(3), pages 268-312, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Paugam, Luc, 2011. "Valorisation et reporting du goodwill : enjeux théoriques et empiriques," Economics Thesis from University Paris Dauphine, Paris Dauphine University, number 123456789/8007 edited by Casta, Jean-François.
    2. Pierre Astolfi & Luc Paugam & Olivier Ramond, 2012. "Purchase Price Allocations: Do they Matter?," Post-Print halshs-00671611, HAL.
    3. P. Astolfi & Luc Paugam & Olivier Ramond, 2012. "Purchase Price Allocations: Do they Matter?," Post-Print hal-00934973, HAL.
    4. Benjamin T. Albersmann & Reiner Quick, 2020. "The Impact of Audit Quality Indicators on the Timeliness of Goodwill Impairments: Evidence from the German Setting," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 56(1), pages 66-103, March.
    5. Johannes Thesing & Patrick Velte, 2021. "Do fair value measurements affect accounting-based earnings quality? A literature review with a focus on corporate governance as moderator," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 91(7), pages 965-1004, September.
    6. Henry Jarva, 2014. "Economic consequences of SFAS 142 goodwill write-offs," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 54(1), pages 211-235, March.
    7. Kothari, S.P. & Ramanna, Karthik & Skinner, Douglas J., 2010. "Implications for GAAP from an analysis of positive research in accounting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(2-3), pages 246-286, December.
    8. 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.
    9. Olante, Maria Elena, 2013. "Overpaid acquisitions and goodwill impairment losses — Evidence from the US," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 243-254.
    10. Andrei Filip & Thomas Jeanjean & Luc Paugam, 2015. "Using Real Activities to Avoid Goodwill Impairment Losses: Evidence and Effect on Future Performance," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(3-4), pages 515-554, April.
    11. Karampinis, Nikolaos I. & Hevas, Dimosthenis L., 2011. "Mandating IFRS in an Unfavorable Environment: The Greek Experience," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 46(3), pages 304-332, September.
    12. Inès Bouden & Luc Paugam & Olivier J. Ramond, 2011. "Les déterminants de la dépréciation du goodwill : proposition d'un cadre d'analyse," Post-Print hal-00646810, HAL.
    13. Paul André & Andrei Filip & Luc Paugam, 2013. "Impact of Mandatory IFRS Adoption on Conditional Conservatism in Europe," Working Papers hal-00862683, HAL.
    14. Wen, He & Moehrle, Stephen R., 2016. "Accounting for goodwill: An academic literature review and analysis to inform the debate," Research in Accounting Regulation, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 11-21.
    15. Dmitri Byzalov & Sudipta Basu, 2016. "Conditional conservatism and disaggregated bad news indicators in accrual models," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 859-897, September.
    16. Mingzhi Liu & Michel Magnan, 2016. "Conditional conservatism and the yield spread of corporate bond issues," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 847-879, May.
    17. Silvia Ferramosca & Giulio Greco & Marco Allegrini, 2017. "External audit and goodwill write-off," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 21(4), pages 907-934, December.
    18. Lale Guler, 2018. "Has SFAS 142 improved the usefulness of goodwill impairment loss and goodwill balances for investors?," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 559-592, July.
    19. 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.
    20. Christopher Nobes & Christian Stadler, 2021. "Towards a Solution to the Variety in Accounting Practices of Extractive Firms under IFRS," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 31(4), pages 273-285, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01277376. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: CCSD (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.