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Do goodwill impairments by European firms provide useful information for investors?

Author

Listed:
  • Alain Schatt
  • Leonidas Doukakis
  • Corinne Bessieux-Ollier

    (MRM - Montpellier Research in Management - UPVM - Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 - UPVD - Université de Perpignan Via Domitia - Groupe Sup de Co Montpellier (GSCM) - Montpellier Business School - UM - Université de Montpellier)

  • Élisabeth Walliser

    (GRM - Groupe de Recherche en Management - EA 4711 - UNS - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) - UniCA - Université Côte d'Azur)

Abstract

In 2004, the IASB adopted the mandatory annual impairment-test-only of goodwill (IAS 36) instead of amortization of goodwill. We present and discuss the academic literature regarding the association between the goodwill impairment, under this new standard, and the revision of investors’ expectations about a company’s future cash flows. The academic literature highlights that, in some specific cases, IAS 36 may help investors to revise their expectations. More precisely, goodwill impairment seems relevant when: (a) there is strong asymmetry of information between managers and investors, (b) managers disclose detailed information in the notes regarding their own assumptions about future cash flows, and (c) managers do not manage earnings and provide reliable information to investors. In many cases, goodwill impairment is probably useless for investors because they are able to revise their expectations based on public information, or because they cannot trust the accounting numbers and additional information in the notes about the impairment test, which are provided by (undisciplined) managers. More research is, however, needed to understand in which circumstances impairment-test-only is more useful, as well in which cases it is less adequate. Our analysis relates to the current post-implementation review and should be useful to standard-setters. Before any modification, we argue that standard-setters should carefully consider the economic and the institutional contexts when issuing a new accounting standard.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Alain Schatt & Leonidas Doukakis & Corinne Bessieux-Ollier & Élisabeth Walliser, 2016. "Do goodwill impairments by European firms provide useful information for investors?," Post-Print halshs-03531855, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-03531855
    DOI: 10.1080/17449480.2016.1254348
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    Cited by:

    1. Durocher, Sylvain & Georgiou, Omiros, 2022. "Framing accounting for goodwill: Intractable controversies between users and standard setters," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    2. Wolfgang Ballwieser, 2019. "Überlegungen zu Theorie und Praxis der Finanzberichterstattung: Herausforderungen, Erkenntnisse und Lücken [Reflections on Theory and Practice of Financial Reporting: Challenges, Scientific Finding," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 71(2), pages 169-211, July.
    3. Atanasov, Atanas, 2019. "Репутацията Като Обект На Счетоводството: Признаване, Оценяване, Оповестяване [Goodwill as an accounting object: initial recognition, measurement, disclosure]," MPRA Paper 97938, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Xu, Jingjing & Huang, Haijie & Lee, Edward & Petaibanlue, Jirada, 2023. "Does goodwill pressure drive business restructuring based on subsidiary disposal?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    5. Paul André & Andrei Filip & Luc Paugam, 2016. "Examining the Patterns of Goodwill Impairments in Europe and the US," Accounting in Europe, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(3), pages 329-352, September.
    6. Walid Guermazi, 2023. "International financial reporting standards adoption in the European Union and earnings conservatism: a review of empirical research," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(2), pages 200-211, June.
    7. d'Arcy, Anne & Tarca, Ann, 2018. "Reviewing IFRS Goodwill Accounting Research: Implementation Effects and Cross-Country Differences," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 53(3), pages 203-226.
    8. Julius Gaël Tchatchou Tchaptchet & Olivier Colot, 2019. "Goodwill’s Accounting Practices in Belgium and Compliance with IAS 36 Required Disclosures," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(3), pages 139-152, March.
    9. Wolfgang Ballwieser, 2020. "International Valuation Standards (IVS) – Bedarf, Reichweite, Würdigung, diskutiert anhand der Bewertung von Unternehmen und Goodwill [International Valuation Standards (IVS)—Demand, Range, Critica," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 72(1), pages 71-94, March.

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