Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Accounting for goodwill'

The issue of accounting for goodwill has caused considerable concern to accountants and academics. For over 100 years there has been diversity of views as to the nature, recognition and measurement of goodwill. Such diversity of views has contributed to the adoption of a variety of accounting practices for goodwill, which has lead to attempts to regulate practice by accounting professions in the Anglo-American world. The research conducted involves a literature review to identify the concepts and definition of goodwill and the criteria for its recognition and measurement. the investigation will then concentrate upon goodwill arising on consolidation of the financial statements of a group of companies. Major accounting practices will be examined, along with the requirements of the australian and mojor overseas professions on the issue. The findings of a study of listed Australian companies which investigated the accounting policies adopted for goodwill on consolidation before and after regulation of the issue and which sought views upon some of the conceptual issues involved are reported and discussed. Implications of the research for the Australian accounting profession will be addressed, and recommendations will be propsed together with a description of future research opportunities.

The function of accounting is to provide users with useful information in making economic decisions. Information regarding goodwill, a major constituent of the value of many listed companies, is likely to be useful in making decisions relating to those companies. A historical review of accounting literature, including professional standards, relating to methods of accounting for purchased goodwill showed that none of them has stood the test of time. The current trend towards an impairment paradigm will not resolve the issue satisfactorily because it produces, at best, a partial solution. The difficulty in accounting meaningfully for goodwill is compounded because, given its foundation in historical cost principles, accounting has been unable to present any information at all with regard to internally generated goodwill within the confines of the traditional Balance Sheet. This, in turn, has led to the evasion of the reality that the two forms of goodwill are inextricably merged. Trying to account satisfactorily for goodwill has been a prime example of R.R. Sterling's 'issues conceived in a way that they are in principle unresolvable'. The problem was accordingly redefined as being to find a method by which the current level of information relating to goodwill in the financial statements contained in a company's Annual Report could be improved. This thesis seeks to identify a logically defensible method of accounting for goodwill which addresses the redefined problem. It builds upon the historical research undertaken, combined with a priori reasoning, to propose an additional financial statement which is a modification of nineteenth century 'double accounting' in a modern context. This statement, which goes far to solve the redefined problem, also furnishes information regarding the company's market capitalization at balance date and is termed the Market Capitalization Statement ("MCS"). While the idea of furnishing market capitalization data to readers of the Annual Report is not new, it is believed that this is the first time such data has been systematically linked with the Balance Sheet to provide an objective, integrated and meaningful view of goodwill in the financial statements. The practical application and simplicity of the MCS are illustrated by a range of examples drawn from Australian 'dot-com' companies over a period of time which saw considerable fluctuation in both goodwill and market capitalization, supplemented by examining data relating to some of Australia's largest listed companies over the same period. These examples demonstrate that the MCS has the potential to provide significant information not available in conventional financial statements, while freeing the traditional Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Account to present information in a more meaningful and less distorted way. Finally, the MCS is noted as still being subject to certain problems and distortions in the context of the historical cost basis of the remaining financial statements. It is shown that, if used in the context of an exit price based system, Chambers' CoCoA, many of these distortions are removed. The MCS also complements the information provided by CoCoA as originally formulated.

The function of accounting is to provide users with useful information in making economic decisions. Information regarding goodwill, a major constituent of the value of many listed companies, is likely to be useful in making decisions relating to those companies. A historical review of accounting literature, including professional standards, relating to methods of accounting for purchased goodwill showed that none of them has stood the test of time. The current trend towards an impairment paradigm will not resolve the issue satisfactorily because it produces, at best, a partial solution. The difficulty in accounting meaningfully for goodwill is compounded because, given its foundation in historical cost principles, accounting has been unable to present any information at all with regard to internally generated goodwill within the confines of the traditional Balance Sheet. This, in turn, has led to the evasion of the reality that the two forms of goodwill are inextricably merged. Trying to account satisfactorily for goodwill has been a prime example of R.R. Sterling�s �issues conceived in a way that they are in principle unresolvable�. The problem was accordingly redefined as being to find a method by which the current level of information relating to goodwill in the financial statements contained in a company�s Annual Report could be improved. This thesis seeks to identify a logically defensible method of accounting for goodwill which addresses the redefined problem. It builds upon the historical research undertaken, combined with a priori reasoning, to propose an additional financial statement which is a modification of nineteenth century �double accounting� in a modern context. This statement, which goes far to solve the redefined problem, also furnishes information regarding the company�s market capitalization at balance date and is termed the Market Capitalization Statement (�MCS�). While the idea of furnishing market capitalization data to readers of the Annual Report is not new, it is believed that this is the first time such data has been systematically linked with the Balance Sheet to provide an objective, integrated and meaningful view of goodwill in the financial statements. The practical application and simplicity of the MCS are illustrated by a range of examples drawn from Australian �dot-com� companies over a period of time which saw considerable fluctuation in both goodwill and market capitalization, supplemented by examining data relating to some of Australia�s largest listed companies over the same period. These examples demonstrate that the MCS has the potential to provide significant information not available in conventional financial statements, while freeing the traditional Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Account to present information in a more meaningful and less distorted way. Finally, the MCS is noted as still being subject to certain problems and distortions in the context of the historical cost basis of the remaining financial statements. It is shown that, if used in the context of an exit price based system, Chambers� CoCoA, many of these distortions are removed. The MCS also complements the information provided by CoCoA as originally formulated.

Abstract One of the major features of financial reporting is conservatism. Accounting conservatism is traditionally defined by the adage “anticipate no profit, but anticipate all losses.” Accounting conservatism is manifested in two general but distinct ways. First, conservatism can be unconditional, meaning that the book value of net assets is understated due to predetermined accounting practices (e.g. immediate expensing of research and development expenditures as incurred). Second, conservatism can be conditional, meaning that the book value of assets is written down under sufficiently adverse circumstances, but not up under favorable circumstances (e.g. goodwill impairment rules). This dissertation focuses only on conditional conservatism. The purpose of this dissertation is to increase our understanding of conditional conservatism through three inter-related essays. These essays seek to answer the following research questions: (1) Are standard measures of conditional conservatism affected by the asymmetry in cash flows? (2) How does “bad news” contribute to the persistence of accruals and cash flows? (3) Do firms manage fair value based goodwill write-offs under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 (SFAS 142)? (4) What are the economic consequences of SFAS 142 goodwill write-offs? Collectively, the empirical results of this dissertation further our understanding of the determinants and implications of conditional conservatism. The first essay demonstrates that the asymmetry in cash flows biases standard measures of conditional conservatism. The second and third essays are one of the first to assess conservatism using an individual accrual account, namely, SFAS 142 goodwill write-offs. The second essay examines the reliability of goodwill write-offs, while the third essay provides evidence on the economic consequences of goodwill write-offs. The findings of these two essays are important for the debate on whether fair value measurements in financial statements are appropriate.

Goodwill is one of the most complex and unclear concepts within financial accounting; it is uncertain what it represents as an asset, it is only recognized during the creation of business combinations and is subject to impairments. The question becomes therefore what meaning is actually to be made from goodwill’s definite appearance as a financial statement line item? Due to a perceived low relevance by users of financial statements, it can be stated that the current narration by the accounting item goodwill fails to meet the fundamental purpose of accounting. Therefore, a study to bring a comprehensive clarification of the accounting item is required where this study attempts to achieve this objective by studying the acquirers’ perceptions of goodwill. First was a thorough theoretical background established that compiles a wide collection of relevant literature on goodwill. Then were semi-structured interviews conducted with top managers of nine different parent companies who had recently made a corporate acquisition. Based on the most salient perceptions derived from the empirical data in relation to the comprehensive theoretical background, this study obtained the following findings. Goodwill can be understood through three central aspects: the underlying objective reality as an intangible asset, the PPA process and the subsequential measurement process. In relation to the two latter aspects could a fourth aspect of managers’ influence be derived. In an overarching integration, these four aspects could be synthesized into a final holistic model of the accounting item goodwill. This model iii ultimately represents a comprehensive understanding of the current accounting item goodwill in financial statements based on the perceptions of acquirers. The findings of this study can be used to bring clarity to the users of financial statements when interpreting goodwill and therefore potentially increase its perceived relevance. Foremost can this study’s holistic model be used as a guideline for future research to further elaborate on the understanding of goodwill and generate improvements to its current accounting design.

This thesis examines the value relevance of goodwill that has been eliminated through reserves in the year of acquisition. Specifically, it investigates the association beiween goodwill reserve write-off and the value placed on the firm by the stock market. In so doing, the thesis describes the relationship between the implied value of purchased goodwill and that of other assets, and we seek to explain the underlying paffern of the amortisation of goodwill over time. The empirical method uses cross-sectional equity valuation models for the period 1994- 6. Based on the modified balance sheet identity, the equity valuation model parameterises purchased goodwill and other assets separately, and a more meaningful interpretation is given of the intercept term than in previous studies relating to purchased goodwill. The results confirm that the market incorporates information on the goodwill reserve write-off in the valuation of a firm, and the results also show that the market: book ratio is similar to tangible assets but its behaviour suggests a relatively higher amortisation rate. Although the present study provides evidence supporting the requirement in FRS 10 (Goodwill and Intangible Assets) to capitalise purchased goodwill, the findings also show that the incremental value of capitalised goodwill declines far more quickly than FRS1O suggests, thus placing particular importance on the impairment test required by FRS 10.

This thesis examines the accounting choices related to goodwill impairment exercised by Malaysian listed companies in the first three years of the implementation of FRS 3 Business Combinations (i.e. 2006/7 to 2008/9). Three aspects of these accounting choices are examined, i.e. disclosure, measurement, and recognition of goodwill impairment. This thesis makes four main contributions. Firstly, it shows how the opportunistic behaviour perspective, previously developed and tested by prior studies using data from listed companies in developed economies (reported to have dispersed ownership), helps explain managerial decisions on the measurement of goodwill impairment in the developing economy of Malaysia (documented to have concentrated ownership). Managerial opportunism is normally discussed in prior studies in the context of agency conflict between managers and shareholders in companies with disperse ownership. Because of the high outside ownership concentration found in the Malaysian listed companies, the empirical result of this thesis suggests that most probably the opportunistic behaviour occurs due to an agency conflict between the controlling shareholders (shareholders outside of the companies) and the minority shareholders. Within this conflict, managers would possibly act on behalf of the controlling shareholders at the expense of the minority shareholders. Secondly, this thesis contributes to research design by developing a disclosure framework. Future researchers could make use of the disclosure framework to identify accounting choices related to goodwill impairment, or to interpret their statistical findings, which this thesis has attempted to do. Thirdly, this thesis presents new results from the empirical evidence related to factors influencing managerial decisions on the measurement of goodwill impairment by Malaysian listed companies. These factors are: managerial ownership, and two different measures of pre-write-off earnings. These results highlight the need for future studies to incorporate these variables, in order to iii provide a more comprehensive model of accounting choices related to goodwill impairment. Finally, this thesis constructs a research setting which aims to capture evidence of a recognition choice related to reporting zero goodwill impairment exercised by Malaysian listed companies. Testing this setting allows the recognition study to make a contribution, by identifying the motives of companies for recognising zero goodwill impairment, which has received limited attention in prior studies. Information concerning these motives is useful to the relevant regulatory bodies overseeing financial reporting standards on goodwill.

Vi har studerat svenska börsnoterade bolag på Stockholmsbörsens largecap-lista som omfattar de största börsnoterade bolagen i Sverige. Syftet med denna studie är att söka samband mellan bolagens nedskrivningar av goodwill och väsentliga händelser. Dessa väsentliga händelser utgörs av byte av revisor och verkställande direktör. Den teoretiska referensramen utgår från tidigare teorier om företagsledningars olika sätt att subjektivt bedöma behovet av nedskrivningar. Det är inte alltid en ledning tar beslut som är för företagets bästa utan kan ha egna incitament för att maximera den egna nyttan. Metoden som vi utgått från i vår studie har varit en kvantitativ metod där vi samlat in data från bolagens årsredovisningar och kvantifierat det för att söka samband genom regressionsanalys. Vårt resultat ger inga indikationer på samband mellan nedskrivningar av goodwill och väsentliga händelser.
We have studied Swedish listed companies on the Stockholm Stock Exchange largecap list, which includes the largest listed companies in Sweden. The purpose of this study is to seek connection between the companies' impairment losses on goodwill and significant events. These significant events consist of a change of accountant and CEO. The theoretical frame of reference is based on previous theories on the different ways of management to subjectively assess the need for write-downs. It is not always a management decision that is for the good of the company but may have its own incentives to maximize its own benefit. The method we used in our study has been a quantitative method where we collected data from the companies´ annual reports and quantified it to seek connection through regression analysis. Our results do not give any indication of the relationship between impairment of goodwill and significant events.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2007.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-55).
I study the evolution of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) # 142, which uses unverifiable fair-value estimates to account for acquired goodwill. I find evidence consistent with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issuing SFAS 142 in response to political pressure over its proposal to abolish pooling accounting: pro-pooling firms can be linked-via political contributions-to U.S. Congresspersons pressuring the FASB on this issue. This result is interesting given the proposal to abolish pooling was due in part to the Securities and Exchange Commission's concerns over pooling misuse. I also find evidence consistent with lobbying support for SFAS 142 increasing in firms' discretion under the standard. Agency theory predicts this unverifiable discretion will be used opportunistically. The results highlight the potential costs of unverifiable fair-value accounting.
by Karthik Ramanna.
Ph.D.

Sedan år 2005 måste samtliga svenska börsnoterade företag presentera sin finansiella information samtredovisningen av densamma i enlighet med standarden IFRS. Detta har resulterat i att företagsledningenssubjektiva tolkningar, något som skapat möjligheter för ledningen att påverka redovisningen. Detta kanförklaras genom Agency Theory och Positive Accounting Theory, vilka beskriver att ledningen antas ageraopportunistiskt, i syfte att maximera sin egennytta. Ledningen tenderar att manipulera företagsredovisning, varav goodwill kan användas som en resultatjusterare.Denna studie belyser hur ledningens handlingsutrymme påverkar företags redovisning av goodwill,betingat av den organisatoriska nivån. Studiens hypoteser formas utifrån organisationsnivåns olikafaktorer, vilka även testas för att se hur faktorerna påverkar företags redovisning av goodwill. För attundersöka studiens syfte används en positivistisk forskningsfilosofi och därmed kvantitativforskningsdesign, vilket präglas av en deduktiv ansats. Insamling av data har åstadkommits via företagsårsredovisningar, något som sedan sammanställts.Studiens resultat indikerar att ju högre skuldsättning och starkare ägarkoncentration, desto mindregoodwill redovisar ledningen. Har företag en låg skuldsättning och svag ägarkoncentration leder det tillökat handlingsutrymme och därmed en potentiellt högre andel redovisad goodwill.Studien bidrar till insikt kring hanteringen av goodwill och att ledningens handlingsutrymme har enpotentiell inverkan på redovisningen av goodwill. Dessutom tillför studien kunskap för vilka faktorer sompåverkar företags redovisningsval. Avslutningsvis bidrar uppsatsen till ökade möjligheter att jämförastudiens resultat med tidigare studier, vilket kan resultera i att ägarna kan få mer kännedom om hur debäst reducerar ledningens handlingsutrymme och dess opportunistiska beslut.
Since year 2005 all Swedish listed companies has to present their financials and accountingaccording to the standard IFRS. This has allowed the management to make subjectiveinterpretations, which in turn has elaborated opportunities to influence the accounting. Thosepossibilities can be explained by Agency Theory and Positive Accounting Theory, which presumethe management acting opportunistically, in order to maximize self-interest. Management tend tomanipulate companies accounting, whereof goodwill can be used as an adjuster of results.The thesis disambiguate how management discretion affect companies accounting of goodwill,contingent of the organizational level. The thesis hypothesis elaborates thru factors of theorganizational level, which are also tested in order to see how the variables affect businesscorporations accounting of goodwill. A positive research philosophy is used in order to analyze thethesis purpose. The data collection has been accomplished using the company's annual reports.The thesis results indicates that the higher debt and stronger concentration of ownership, the lessamount goodwill is accounted. If companies has a lower debt and weaker concentration ofownership, it increases management discretion and thereby a potentially higher amount of goodwill.The thesis contribute to knowledge about managing goodwill and that management discretion hasa potentially impact on the accounting of goodwill. Finally, the thesis contributes to increasedopportunities to compare the thesis results with previous studies, which may result in the ownersbeing able to get more knowledge of how they best reduce management discretion and itsopportunistically decisions.

One of the most significant development in the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) has been the increased use of fair values as the most commonly used asset valuation approach. According to standard setters, the use of fair value estimates in valuing assets provides users of financial information more timely, accurate and transparent information of the underlying economic condition of companies that apply IFRS standards in their financial statements. This in turn improves the decision usefulness of financial information reported in these financial statements. Nevertheless, valuing assets at their fair values can be a complex task which requires a number of managers’ assumptions and estimations for the valuation of assets that are not actively traded in markets. Further, assets that are valued at their fair values can be opportunistically overstated or understated when such managements’ unverifiable estimates are used in valuing assets. The issue with unverifiable estimates is especially problematic with goodwill, which is recognized in a business combination as the excess of the purchase price and the fair value of net assets received in the acquisition. The current IFRS standards require companies to carry out an annual impairment test for goodwill instead of straight-line amortization. According to the International Accounting Standard (IAS) 36 Impairment of Assets, companies that apply IFRS standards in their financial reporting must apply fair value estimates to determine goodwill impairments. That is, a company must record a goodwill impairment loss if the fair value of a cash-generating unit to which goodwill has been allocated is less than its carrying amount. The IAS 36 standard itself does not give specific guidelines on how the goodwill impairment test should be executed. Thus, the standard may provide managers incentives to opportunistically manipulate the outcomes of goodwill impairment tests in order to overstate or understate earnings. The purpose of the thesis is to examine the determinants of goodwill impairment losses in Finnish listed companies. The determinants examined in the thesis are divided into three categories: the economic or actual indications of goodwill impairments, managerial discretion and corporate governance mechanisms. Firstly, the thesis examines the actual economic occurrences that impact on goodwill impairment losses in Finnish listed companies. Secondly, the thesis studies the extent to which managers of Finnish listed companies utilize discretion in goodwill impairment decisions. Finally, the effect of corporate governance mechanisms on goodwill impairment losses is investigated to determine whether the managers of Finnish listed companies are opportunistically manipulating goodwill impairment tests or if indications of opportunistic behavior are in fact due to managers’ attempts to convey their private information on the underlying economic condition of the company. The findings of the thesis indicate that the leading economic factors affecting goodwill impairment losses are a company’s book-to-market ratio and the amount of goodwill to total assets. The results show that the higher a company’s book-to-market ratio the more likely the company is to report a goodwill impairment loss. Likewise, the higher the amount of goodwill is to total assets the more likely a company is to impair goodwill. These results are consistent with a number of prior research on the subject. Furthermore, as predicted, the results disclose that Finnish listed companies that have experienced a recent change in CEO are more likely to impair goodwill. Newly appointed CEOs may be more inclined to impair goodwill in order to blame the impairments on the previous CEO. On the other hand, new CEOs may impair goodwill as they try to help a troubled company by restructuring a company’s assets. Finally, the results show a significant relationship between big bath behavior and goodwill impairment losses: companies that have abnormally low earnings are more likely to report goodwill impairment losses during in order to report higher future earnings. However, the results show no significant relationship between goodwill impairment losses and corporate governance mechanisms. This could mean that the managers of Finnish listed companies may be to some extent manipulating the outcomes goodwill impairment tests. The results of the thesis should be of standard setter’s interest. In order to assess if IAS 36 serves its purpose to provide users of financial information more timely and decision usefulness information on the fair values of a company’s assets and value, the standard setters should evaluate the findings of studies on goodwill impairment losses and the determinants that explain them. Additionally, the results of the thesis can be used in order to identify the circumstances in which managers may have incentives to opportunistically manipulate outcomes of goodwill impairment tests.

Sammanfattning   Bakgrund: Efter införandet av IFRS standarder i Sverige har andelen redovisad goodwill ökat allt mer bland börsbolagen. Detta har resulterat i att allt fler investerare fäster större vikt vid goodwill och där en nedskrivning förmedlar väsentlig ny information till marknaden. Ett problem är dock att en nedskrivningsprövning innehåller flertalet komplexa bedömningar såsom identifiering av kassagenererande enheter och tillämpning av diskonteringsränta. Om företagen inte har den expertis som krävs kan det leda till orimliga värderingar. Det finns både interna och externa indikationer på när goodwillvärdet försvagas och då klientföretagen har en djupare intern information försvåras revisorns möjligheter vid granskning, vilket kan anses vara en stor börda för revisorn. Att goodwill ökat i omfattning och allt större fokus riktas mot posten, leder till att även granskningen av goodwill bör öka i betydelse för revisorer. Deras roll är att inge förtroende åt klientföretagens finansiella rapporter och motsvara samhällets normer och etiska synsätt. Därmed tilltar intresset att veta hur revisorer praktiskt går tillväga då de granskar en goodwillpost upprättad enligt IFRS regler. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att beskriva revisorns arbetsgång vid en granskning av goodwill upprättad enligt IFRS samt diskutera hur revisorns arbete påverkas av omständigheter i dess närhet. Målet är att studien ska kunna bidra till att intressenter av finansiella rapporter kan få en bättre förståelse för hur revisorn granskar goodwillposter. Metod: För att uppfylla studiens syfte valde vi att tillämpa en kvalitativ metod för att få en så djup förståelse för revisorers tillvägagångssätt som möjligt. Vi började med att undersöka vilka revisorer som granskat börsbolag med stora goodwillposter i förhållande till eget kapital. På detta sätt kunde vi avgöra vilka revisorer och revisionsbyråer som har stor erfarenhet av väsentliga goodwillposter. Sedan har intervjuer genomförts där revisorerna fått återge sitt tillvägagångssätt vid granskning av goodwill och dennes personliga uppfattningar kring ämnet. Slutsats: Theory of Practice har fungerat i syfte att hjälpa oss analysera den individuella revisorns praktiska tillvägagångssätt på ett djupare plan. Goodwillgranskning kan anses vara en problematisk situation där revisorn ständigt behöver utveckla sin kunskap för att kunna upprätthålla den viktiga roll revisorn har i företagsvärlden och samhället i stort. Studien visar att revisorerna högst motsägelsefullt tenderar att uppfatta goodwill som en komplex redovisningspost, samtidigt anser de att den inte är särskilt svår att hantera. Studien visade även att trots splittrade personliga åsikter om IFRS regler så agerar revisorerna på ett relativt enhetligt sätt då en goodwillpost granskas. Revisorns agerande påverkas av sina kollegors förväntningar men även klientföretagets förtroende. Den främsta förklaringen till dessa slutsatser är att revisionsbyråerna skapat kontroll över revisorernas tillvägagångssätt genom en uppbyggd organisationsstruktur med flera kunskapsintensiva stödfunktioner. Genom att bidra revisorerna med dessa resurser kan byråerna styra utvecklingen av ett gemensamt synsätt på hur ett problem ska lösas. Revisorerna ser stödfunktionerna som en kunskapskälla vilket inger en känsla av trygghet. Denna effektiva strategi leder till att kunskap sprids och underlättar revisorns granskningsarbete. Nyckelord: goodwill, IFRS, nedskrivning, revision, revisor, granskning, Theory of practice.
Abstract   Background: Following the introduction of IFRS standards in Sweden, the amount of goodwill has soared among listed companies. This makes investors pay more attention to goodwill and impairment gives substantial new information to the market. One problem is that impairment test contains several intricate assessments, such as the identification of cash generating units and the application of discount rate. If the companies don’t have the required expertise, it may lead to unreasonable valuations. There are both internal and external indications of goodwill impairment, where clients have access to more internal information than the auditor. This can be considered as a great burden for the auditor to overcome. Since goodwill, as an asset, has become more important this implies that review of goodwill should increase in importance for auditors. Their role is to increase trust in financial reporting and meet societal norms and ethics. Thereby, there is an increasing interest to understand how auditors review goodwill according to IFRS. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the auditor´s review procedures related to goodwill according to IFRS and to discuss how the auditor´s work is influenced by the circumstances in its vicinity. The objective of the study is to contribute with an increased understanding among stakeholders about the auditor´s review of goodwill. Method: In order to fulfill the purpose of this study, we chose a qualitative method to get as deep understanding of an auditors' approach as possible. We began by examining the auditors who audited the listed companies with large goodwill relative to shareholders’ equity. In this way, we could determine which auditors and audit firms that have best experience of goodwill items. After narrowing down the list we ask auditors to reproduce their approach and personal views of goodwill auditing through interviews. Conclusion: Theory of Practice has worked in order to help us analyze the individual auditor's practical approach on a deeper level. Goodwill review can be considered a problematic situation where the auditor continuously improve their knowledge in order to maintain the important task of the auditor have in the corporate world and society in general. Contradictory the study shows that auditors tend to recognize goodwill as a complex accounting item, but at the same time they do not consider that it is particularly difficult to manage. The study also shows that despite the fragmented personal views on IFRS rules the auditors acting in a relatively uniform manner as goodwill are reviewed. Auditor's behavior is influenced by their colleagues' expectations as well as the client company’s confidence in them. But the main explanation for these findings is that audit firms create control over the auditors approach through organization structure with a number of knowledge-intensive support functions. By contributing resources to the auditors, the audit firms are able to develop a common approach to how a problem should be solved. The auditors find the support functions as a knowledge source which inspires a sense of security. This determinacy leading to that knowledge distributes and facilitates the auditor's review. Keyword: goodwill, IFRS, impairment, accounting, audit, auditor, Theory of Practice

This research explores the empirical association between takeover bid premium and acquired goodwill, and tests whether the empirical association changes after the passage of approved accounting standard AASB1013: Accounting for Goodwill. AASB1013 mandates capitalization and amortization of acquired goodwill to the profit and loss account, over a maximum time period of 20 years. Using real options and contracting cost frameworks, this study argues that reducing the variety of accounting policy options available to bidder management after an acquisition results in a systematic loss in firm value. An empirical model developed by Robinson and Shane (1990) and Choi and Lee (1991) is used to measure the average effect on bid premiums of the mandatory change in accounting rule, after controlling for a range of confounding variables including mode of payment, managerial share ownership, and bidder prior share ownership. Based on a final sample consisting of 127 pre-AASB1013 bids and 134 post-AASB1013 bids, the results show that the goodwill accounting rule contained in AASB1013 significantly reduces both the mean and median level of bid premium and the strength of the association between acquired goodwill and bid premium.

Syfte: Genom att i praktiken se hur företag identifierar immateriella tillgångar syftar den här studien att ur ett intressentperspektiv diskutera relevansen, tillförlitligheten och jämförbarheten av det initiala värdet av goodwill.Metod: Studien baseras på en kvalitativ fenomenografisk metodansats. Djupintervjuer och telefonintervjuer har används för att samla in det empiriska materialet. Empirin har därefter behandlats med en abduktionsansats för att möjliggöra en diskussion genom att pendla mellan det empiriska materialet och tänkbara teorier.Analys: Utifrån legitimitet- och intressentteorin kan skillnaderna i redovisningen förklaras av: 1) Företagsledares tolkning av det sociala kontraktet. 2) IFRS. 3) Revisorns roll. 4) Intressenternas makt, legitimitet och brådska. 5) Börsnoterat kontra icke börsnoterat.Slutsats: Studien finner att IFRS 3 inte ökar relevansen, tillförlitligheten och jämförbarheten av informationen förvärvaren ger om det förvärvade bolaget. För att IFRS 3 ska uppnå syftet med relevans, tillförlitlighet och jämförbarhet, bör de införas en tydlig vägledning hur företagen ska identifiera och värdera immateriella tillgångar efter ett rörelseförvärv. Vidare forskning krävs för att fastställa vilka egenskaper identifierbara tillgångar och goodwill besitter.
This thesis is written in Swedish.Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is through practice see how companies identifies intangible assets and by using a stakeholder perspective discuss the relevance, reliability and comparability of the initial value of goodwill.Methodology: This thesis is based on a qualitative phenomenography methodology. The empirical material have been gathered through in-depth interviews and telephone interviews. An abductive approach where applied on the empirical data and selective theories to enhance the discussion.Analysis: By applying the legitimacy and stakeholder theory the de facto difference in the accounting of the initial value of goodwill can be explained by: 1) Managers interpretation of the social contract. 2) IFRS. 3) The role of the accountant. 4) Power, legitimacy and urgency of the stakeholder. 6) Publicly listed company vs. unlisted company.Findings: This thesis finds that IFRS 3 do not increase the relevance, reliability and comparability of the information the acquirer discloses of the acquired company. If IFRS 3 is to fulfill its purpose of relevance, reliability and comparability, IASB needs to introduce a guidance how companies should identify and appraise intangible assets after acquisitions. Further research is needed on what properties intangible assets have and how goodwill should properly be classified.

Bakgrund och problem: Alla börsnoterade företag är, sedan år 2005, tvungna att följa IFRS/IASB riktlinjer för att sammanställa en årsredovisning. IFRS är ett regelverk som tillämpas i alla länder inom Europeiska Unionen. I dessa förpliktelser och riktlinjer finns det kryphål som ger företagen möjlighet till subjektiva bedömningar. De subjektiva bedömningarna ger företagen möjligheten att manipulera redovisningen, detta kallas för Earnings management. I samband med övergången till IFRS medförde det förändringar i hur företagen redovisade. En av förändringarna var att den årliga avskrivningen av goodwill inte längre skulle skrivas av, utan varje år skall företagen göra en prövning om det föreligger ett nedskrivningsbehov av goodwill. Prövningen ger företaget möjlighet att lägga in sina subjektiva bedömningar utifrån eget intresse och därmed kunna manipulera redovisningen. Ett annat sätt att manipulera redovisningen är att redovisa högre avsättningar då företagen förväntar sig ett sämre resultat, för att på så vis inte ha lika stora avsättningar åren därpå och därmed kunna redovisa ett bättre resultat nästkommande år. Studien kommer att undersöka ifall stora nedskrivningar och avsättningar förekommer i samband med att en ny VD träder fram. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka och analysera om Big Bath Accounting förekommer i företag registrerade på Nasdaq OMX Stockholm och Nasdaq OMX Helsinki. Studien fokuserar på att undersöka huruvida det råder ett samband mellan stora engångskostnader och VD-byten samt om det förekommer några skillnader mellan Sverige och Finland. Avgränsningar: Studien avgränsar sig till samtliga företag som är registrerade på Stockholmsbörsen och Helsinkibörsen Large Cap mellan åren 2005-2011. Metod: Undersökningsmetoden som har tillämpats för denna studie har en kvantitativ ansats och har använts sig av sekundär data i form av årsredovisningar. Studiens datainsamling sker med hjälp av tillgänglig information som redan finns elektroniskt på företagens hemsidor. Dessutom har en deduktiv undersökningsansats tillämpats, då studien utgår ifrån teorier som har formats till hypoteser som skall jämföras med data för att kunna komma fram till en slutsats. Ett t-test kommer att användas i studien för att testa hypoteserna som påstår att det finns ett samband mellan VD-byten och nedskrivningar av goodwill och avsättningar till långfristiga skulder. Resultat och slutsatser: T-testet visade att det inte råder ett statistiskt samband mellan VD-byten och nedskrivning av goodwill och avsättningar till långfristiga skulder. Då man bortser från t-testet och tittar närmare på vissa företag kan man se att det förekommer större engångskostnader vid VD-byten än år utan VD-byten, eftersom detta endast förekommer i vissa fall kan man inte dra en generell slutsats i frågan. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Eftersom den insamlade datan visade på vissa likheter mellan Sverige och Finland, båda länderna hade flest VD-byten år 2011 och högst KEK år 2007, skulle det vara intressant att studera om detta är en slump eller om det föreligger något intressant samband. Vidare kan man studera huruvida dessa likheter förekommer mellan alla nordiska länder. Stora nedskrivningar och avsättningar inträffade inte endast vid ett VD-byte utan i vissa fall förekom de även 1-2 år efter att ett VD-byte skett. Vi anser därför att det skulle vara intressant att föra vidare förslaget om att inte endast kolla på året då ett VD-byte skett utan under en längre period.

Bakgrund och problem: En harmonisering inom redovisningsområdet i Sverige har skett, bland annat på grund av Sveriges inträde i EU. En av förändringarna är sättet koncerner numera redovisar goodwill. Under tidigare reglering skrevs goodwill av under en femårsperiod. I och med införandet av IAS förordningen har goodwill inte längre någon bestämd livslängd och testas istället årligen om nedskrivningsbehov föreligger. Värderingen av goodwill baseras på framtida prognoser, vilka alltid innehåller en viss osäkerhet. På grund av att goodwill inte längre har en bestämd livslängd utgör goodwillposten en allt större del av företags balansräkning. Eniro är ett av de mer extrema fallen. För räkenskapsåret 2008 redovisar Eniro totala tillgångar på 16.620 msek varav 11.374 msek är goodwill. När goodwill är en så stor del av företags totala tillgångar kan en felvärdering få ödestiga konsekvenser. Då värderingen av goodwill baseras på prognoser finns det en flexibilitet som skulle kunna nyttjas för personlig vinning. Studien undersöker om det finns ett samband mellan goodwillnedskrivningar och faktorerna företagsstorlek, rörlig ersättning till verkställande direktör samt om verkställande direktör är nytillsatt. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att studera om olika incitament påverkar företag att utnyttja flexibiliteten i redovisningen av goodwill. Metod: För att uppfylla syftet med studien har en kvantitativ metod tillämpats. Företag noterade på Stockholm Nasdaq OMX Large Cap och Mid Cap har behandlats. Datan om företagen har samlats in från företagens årsredovisningar räkenskapsåren 2005-2008. Resultat och slutsatser: Studien visar att nytillsatta verkställande direktörer oftare skriver ner goodwill än ej nytillsatta verkställande direktörer. Nytillsatta verkställande direktörer skriver dock ner goodwill med en lägre summa än ej nytillsatta verkställande direktörer. Resultatet förklaras med den höga variansen för nedskrivningarna gjorda av ej nytillsatta verkställande direktörer. Studien finner att stora företag oftare skriver ner goodwill och att nedskrivningarna är av ett högre värde än mindre företag. Ett resultat som finner stöd av tidigare forskning. Studien visar även att det finns incitament för verkställande direktörer under nästan samtliga räkenskapsår i studiens urval.

Prior to the implementation of FAS 142 in 2002, goodwill was amortized annually. Now, companies with goodwill on their books must test it annually for impairment. This paper examines the effectiveness of goodwill amortization and impairment of goodwill both before and after the adoption of FAS 142 by analyzing their effect on abnormal stock returns. My results regarding the effect of goodwill amortization on stock returns are inconsistent, suggesting that goodwill amortization is not useful in determining the value of a company. My results also suggest that the stock market anticipates goodwill impairments before they are announced.

Abstract: This thesis explores the goodwill impairment practices of Australian companies from 2007 – 2013 to ascertain what impact, if any, that the Global Financial Crisis may have had on goodwill value. The thesis also examines determinants of goodwill and whether there is any evidence of earnings management associated with non-impairment of goodwill. The findings contained within this thesis would be useful to accounting practitioners, auditors, academics, policy makers and regulators to gain an understanding of how and why firms choose to impair. The thesis is presented in seven chapters. Chapter one provides an introduction to the outline of the thesis including justification for the research and its relationship to practice based outcomes. Chapter two provides a background to the current goodwill environment and then reviews the extant literature surrounding goodwill and impairment, including agency theory, earnings management and signaling theory. Chapter three provides a technical review of the accounting standards surrounding goodwill and impairment and considers conceptual incongruities within the standards related to internally generated goodwill. Chapter four provides a breakdown of the sample selection and goodwill impairment from 2007 – 2013 using a sample of 237 All Ordinaries listed companies and observes non impairment in 35% of the sampled companies. Chapter five examines potential determinants of goodwill impairment using step-wise regression and identifies a number of factors that increase the likelihood of impairment. Chapter six explores non impairment and finds evidence to support both earnings management and internally generated goodwill being subsumed into acquired goodwill. Chapter seven then concludes the thesis by summarising the findings and suggests potential areas of future research.

Abstrakt Titel: Svenska revisorers uppfattning av goodwillredovisning enligt IFRS Nivå: C -uppsats i ämnet företagsekonomi Författare: Elin Elmehagen och Tomas Friberg Handledare: Jan Svanberg Datum: 2014- maj Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka svenska revisorers uppfattning av goodwillredovisning enligt internationella redovisningsstandarder, IFRS. Mer specifikt syftar studien till att undersöka huruvida svenska revisorer anser att det existerar ett manipulativt beteende vid goodwillredovisning enligt IFRS och vilka bakgrundsfaktorer som kan förklara revisorernas uppfattningar. Metod: Vi har använt oss av en elektronisk enkätundersökning. Enkäten skickades ut till 732 svenska godkända och auktoriserade revisorer. Vi fick 92 svar vilket ger en svarsfrekvens på 12,57 %. Resultaten redovisas genom att vi presenterar tabeller med förklarande text. Resultat & Slutsats: Utifrån studien har det framgått att det finns två linjer av tankegångar angående goodwillredovisning enligt IFRS bland svenska revisorer. Den första linjen anser att företagsledningen har ett opportunistiskt beteende vid goodwillnedskrivningar. Den andra linjen anser att värderingar av goodwill baserade på framtida kassaflöden är att föredra samt att IFRS bestämmelser om regelbundna prövningar av goodwillnedskrivning anses som god praxis jämfört med tidigare bestämmelser då avskrivningar skedde på årsbasis. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Det vore intressant att se en liknande studier efter förändringarna i det nya reglementet som kommer att gälla från och med 2016. Dessa kommer ändra reglerna för hur goodwillnedskrivningar ska göras. Det vore också intressant att göra en mer kvalitativ undersökning på samma problemområde för att få fram en mer djupgående förståelse för revisorernas åsikter. Uppsatsens bidrag: Studien har identifierat vilka åsikter revisorer har angående goodwillredovisning enligt IFRS den resultatstyrning reglerna ger möjlighet till. Detta är intressant att studera för andra revisorer, standardsättare, företag och intressenter.  Nyckelord: Goodwill, Goodwillredovisning, IFRS, Nedskrivningar, IAS, Sverige
Abstract Title: Swedish auditors' perception of goodwill accounting under IFRS Level: Final assignment for Bachelor Degree in Business Administration Author: Elin Elmehagen and Tomas Friberg Supervisor: Jan Svanberg Date: 2014 – May Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate Swedish accountants perception of goodwill accounting in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRS. More specifically, the study aims to investigate whether Swedish auditors believe that there exists a manipulative behavior in goodwill accounting under IFRS and the background factors that may explain the auditors' perception. Method: We have used an electronic survey. The questionnaire was sent to 732 Swedish approved and certified public accountants. We received 92 responses giving a response rate of 12,57 %. The results are reported by presenting tables with explanatory text. Result & Conclusions: Based on the study there has shown that there are two lines of thoughts regarding goodwill accounting under IFRS among Swedish auditors. The first line thinks that management behaves opportunistically in goodwill impairment. The second line believes that valuations of goodwill based on future cash flows are preferable and that the IFRS provisions on periodic tests of goodwill impairment is considered as a good practice compared to the precious rules when deprecations were done on an annual basis Suggestions for future research: It would be interesting to see a similar study after the changes that will take place 2016. These will change the rules for how goodwill impairment should be done. It would also be interesting to make a more qualitative survey on the same problem area in order to obtain a deeper understanding of auditors' opinions.  Contribution of the thesis: This study has identified the opinion of auditors regarding goodwill accounting under IFRS and the management earnings these rules allow for. This is interesting to study for other auditors, standard setters, companies and stakeholders. Key words: Goodwill, Goodwill Accounting, IFRS, Impairments, IAS, Sweden

In this paper preparers’ and non-preparers’ positions regarding accounting for goodwill are examined through studying submitted comment letters on ED3 ‘Business Combinations’. Preparers have, because of economic consequences, incentives to lobby for the non-amortisation approach and non-preparers for the amortisation approach. As hypothesised, non-preparers are found to support amortisation of goodwill to a greater extent than do preparers. Moreover, the two groups’ supportive arguments, i.e. how they argue for or against the non-amortisation or amortisation approach, are studied. Again, as hypothesised, the results show that the two groups use the same type of ‘sophisticated’ framework based arguments instead of economic consequences arguments. Taken together the examination of the comment letters thus indicates that both preparers and non-preparers point at conceptual strengths and weaknesses, instead of pointing at the real cause of the lobbying activities, i.e. perceived economic consequences, when they try to affect the final outcome of the standard. These findings confirm earlier research which has suggested that self-interested lobbyists use accounting theories and concepts as useful justifications.

Bakgrund:

De internationella diskussionerna kring goodwill är och har alltid varit många. Man har bland annat diskuterat huruvida goodwill överhuvudtaget är en tillgång samt hur denna tillgång skall värderas, redovisas och skrivas av. Goodwill har fått allt större betydelse i företagen på senare år, bland annat genom de många IT-företag som uppkom i slutet av 1990-talet och därefter. Goodwill, som utgör den största delen av immateriella tillgångar i den ”nya ekonomins” företag, har varit ett av de största redovisningsproblemen. Från och med 1 jan 2005 är det obligatoriskt för alla börsbolag att övergå till IFRS 3 och detta innebär att goodwill inte får skrivas av längre utan man måste utföra årliga så kallade impairment test för att se om det finns nedskrivningsbehov.

Problem:

Övergången till IFRS kommer att leda till stora omfattande förändringar bland annat vad gäller sättet att redovisa och se på goodwill. I och med att dessa regler har trätt i kraft från och med 1 januari 2005 kan man inte veta exakt hur detta kommer att påverka företagen då allt kommer att ske i framtiden. Man har inte heller kunnat enas om dessa regler verkligen kommer att ge en rättvisande bild.

Syfte:

Syften med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur värderingsprocessen för koncernmässig goodwill går till vid impairment test i och med övergången till IFRS 3 samt om det finns några modeller för värdering av dessa goodwillposter. Vi vill även undersöka om dessa regler medför några problem för börsföretagen samt om de ger upphov till en mer rättvisande bild av goodwill.

Metod:

Enkätundersökning, intervjuer, amerikanska artiklar samt skriftliga källor. Vi har kontaktat 50 företag per telefon och 31 av dessa svarade på enkätundersökningen. Vi har även genomfört 3 intervjuer med ekonomiansvariga inom uppsatsens ämne samt en expert på goodwillfrågor på PWC.

Slutsatser:

Värderingsprocessen vid impairment test tillämpas på samma sätt av alla företag. Den mest använda modellen för värdering av goodwill är den diskonterade kassaflödes modellen (DCF). Det har visat sig att impairment test är mer tidskrävande och komplicerat än man hade förväntat sig. Under förutsättning att alla företag använder samma parametrar och avkastningskrav vid beräkning av goodwill kan de nya reglerna ge en mer rättvisande bild.

Background:

The international discussions around goodwill is and has always been many. People have been discussing whether goodwill is an asset and how it should be valued, calculated and amortized. Goodwill have had more importance among the companies during the last years and that is because of arise of the IT-companies at the end of 90´s. The transition to IFRS 3 will apply as of January 1, 2005 for all exchange-listed companies. The main change is that acquired goodwill is no longer amortized over a set time period. Rather, it is tested for impairment and adjusted as needed.

Problem:

The transition to IFRS is going to lead to big extensive changes, among other things the way we will see goodwill. These rules were applied January 1, 2005 and we don’t know exactly how there rules are going to influence the companies because everything is going to happen in the future. People have not yet agreed if these rules really give a correct picture of the reality.

Purpose:

The purpose of this thesis is to look into how the valuation process of goodwill comes about after the transition to IFRS 3 and also if there is any models for goodwill valuation. We also want to look into if the new rules will bring along problems for exchange-listed companies. The purpose is furthermore to se if IFRS 3 will give rise to a more correct picture of goodwill.

Method:

Questionnaire survey, interviews, American articles and litterateur sources. We have contacted 50 companies by phone and 31 of these companies answered our questionnaire survey. We have also made three interviews with people who have experience of goodwill valuation and one interview with an expert in our thesis’ subject area.

Conclusions:

The valuation process of goodwill is applied in the same way by all companies. The most used model to measure goodwill impairment is the discounted cash flow model (DCF). It turned out that impairment test is more time-consuming and complicated then one had expected. Under the condition that all companies will use same parametric and earnings requirement when valuating goodwill, IFRS 3 will give rise to a more correct picture of goodwill.

This study examines changes in a company’s audit committee accounting expertise following an M&A transaction. M&A accounting (ASC 805) is complex, nuanced, and error-prone. An M&A also involves significant operational and financial changes for the acquirer, including changes in internal control over financial reporting. Thus, an acquirer’s demand for accounting expertise is likely heightened at the time of an M&A. This study provides the first insights (to my knowledge) regarding the role of accounting experts in the dynamic M&A setting. In a sample of relatively large (on average) M&As, I document that there are financial reporting benefits (reduced likelihood of restatements, higher likelihood of timely goodwill impairments, and smaller allocations of purchase price to in-process research and development) associated with changes/increases in audit committee accounting expertise. Further, my results suggest that changes/increases in audit committee accounting expertise matter more than changes/increases in other types of audit committee expertise (supervisory, industry, and M&A contextual). I document that changes/increases in audit committee accounting expertise are positively associated with accounting and business complexities. Collectively, the evidence suggests that accounting expertise is valuable in the M&A setting. This provides support for the SEC’s definition (in its 2002 proposal, although not in its final 2003 rule) of audit committee financial experts as those with accounting-specific backgrounds (SEC 2002, 2003).

In 2001, the FASB (Financial Accounting Standard Board) introduced accounting regulations SFAS 141 and SFAS 142 to improve the relevance, representational faithfulness, and comparability of financial reporting. The new standards have profoundly changed the accounting for business combinations and goodwill under US GAAP by requiring reporting entities to no longer amortize goodwill over its expected useful life, but to test for impairment annually. However, the new regulation has met sharp criticism for creating a scope for high levels of managerial discretion which may be exercised opportunistically in the accounting for goodwill. This study examines whether the proportion of purchase price allocated to goodwill differs between public and private acquisitions. We try to answer this question by carrying out a quantitative study on 481 observations, between the period of 2001 to 2005 by studying the relationship between acquirer type (Public vs. Private) and target firm characteristic on goodwill allocated, and we find the following results: 1) Public acquirers allocate higher levels of goodwill in comparison to private acquirers. (2) Market-to-book values of private target firms are not positively correlated with recorded goodwill levels.

Goodwill har under en längre tid varit ett av redovisningens stora problemområden. Debatten om redovisning av detta komplexa begrepp har pågått länge. Frågan om tidsperioden för avskrivningar eller om koncernmässig goodwill överhuvudtaget skall skrivas av har varit en av de mest omstridda redovisningsfrågorna.

International Accounting Standards Board är ett oberoende organ vars åtaganden är att fastställa standarder inom redovisning och finansiell rapportering. IFRS är det regelverk som ges ut av IASB. Utvecklandet av IFRS sker genom en internationell process där

alla intressenter (nationella normgivare, utgivare och användare av finansiella rapporter, revisorer mm) som berörs är beviljade att delge sin uppfattning. IASB publicerade under 2004 en ny standard rörande företagsförvärv. IFRS 3 Business Combinations, innehåller stora förändringar som bland annat innebär att Goodwill inte längre skall skrivas av utan vid behov skrivas ned. Under december 2002 utgav IASB ”Exposure Draft 3, Business Combinations” där nämnden bjöd in aktörer till att svara på och kommentera de olika frågorna som ingick i utkastet till IFRS 3.

Syftet med denna uppsats är att försöka öka förståelsen av hur lobbying av denna typ fungerar genom att studera svarsbreven IASB erhållit ifrån de olika aktörerna till fråga 8 i utkastet.

Studien har utgått ifrån ett hermeneutiskt förhållningssätt med en abduktiv ansats. Det empiriska materialet är uppdelat efter hur aktörerna ställt sig till frågan och därefter klassificerat efter vilken grupp intressenterna tillhör. Analysen har genomförts för varje aktörsgrupp separat. Syftet med detta är att försöka urskilja hur varje grupp argumenterat för sin sak för att sedan se om vi kan hitta någonting gemensamt i själva resonemangen som knyter gruppen till en viss ställning. Även argumenten i sig är klassificerade efter syntaktiska, pragmatiska och semantiska resonemang.

Störst i antalet insända svar var producenter av finansiell information. Då nya regler får en direkt påverkan på producenter av finansiell information kan det relativa intresset från denna grupp förklaras med att aktörer söker påverka mot en position som gynnar

den egna verksamheten. Den minsta gruppen utgjordes av statliga institutioner, detta kan förklaras med att utkastet inte medförde eventuella skatteeffekter, då standarden behandlar koncernredovisning.

Innhållet i argumenten var den samma för de flesta aktörer. Samtliga intressenter hade på liknande sätt utgått ifrån IASBs ställningstagande när dessa argumenterade mot utkastet. Aktörerna som var för hade inte sökt stärka sin position i vidare mening. Pragmatiska och semantiska argument var de som förekom mest, syntaktiska argument användes i betydligt lägre utsträckning.

Goodwill has under a significant time been a major dilemma in accounting. The controversy regarding how to recognize this complex concept has been going on for a long period of time. The issue concerning amortisation over the useful life or amortisation of goodwill in general is one of the most disputed accounting subjects.

International Accounting Standards Board is a self governing organizational body whose assignment is to promulgate accounting and financial standards. IFRS is a set of accounting standards that are issued by IASB. The development of IFRS occurs through a process where all interested parties(standard-setter, auditors, publisher and

users of financial reports) whose affected are advised to inform their opinion. In 2004 IASB published a new standard concerning business combinations. IFRS 3 contained amendments proposing that goodwill should not be amortised systematically over its useful life and that goodwill instead should be impaired on indication. During

December 2002 IASB published ”Exposure Draft 3, Business Combinations” where they invited participants to respond and comment on the subject that was included in the exposure draft.

The purpose of this paper to gain understanding and perception of how lobbying of this nature functions by studying and analyzing the comment letters that IASB received on question 8 in the exposure draft.

In This paper we assume a hermeneutic abductiv approach. The empirical data is divided after how the interested has positioned themselves in the question and accordingly to suited groups. The analysis has been executed for every interest group separately. The purpose in doing this is to try to identify how the each group has argued for his matter and afterwards seek to find something general in the groups reasoning for it’s position. The arguments that each respondent group applies are also assorted in three classifications, syntactic, semantic and pragmatic.

Considerable amount of the comment letters were in the group, producers of financial information. When new standards have a direct effect on producers of financial reports, we observed that the interest from this group can be explained by stating that they seek to influence against a position that benefits their financial activities. The minor group constituted of governmental institutions, this can be clarified by noticing that the

exposure draft did not result in any potential tax effects, since the standard only concerned business combinations.

The content of the arguments was similar for the majority of the interested parties. They had all in an equivalent way assumed from the same standing point as IASB, when arguing against the exposure draft. The interest that was for the proposal did not attempt to strengthen their position in an extended meaning. The arguments that aroused mostly were pragmatic and semantic, syntactic arguments were applied in a lower extent.

Goodwill är en immateriell tillgång som funnits inom redovisningen de senaste hundra åren. Hur goodwill ska behandlas diskuteras flitigt av forskare och yrkesverksamma. Från och med 2005 beslutade EU att alla noterade företag i unionen skulle följa IASB:s standarder vid upprättandet av sin koncernredovisning. Med de nya reglerna följde att goodwill ska värderas till verkligt värde och årligen testas för nedskrivningsbehov. Denna värderingsmetod innehåller subjektiva bedömningar av företagsledningen, vilket kräver transparens av företagen i sin redovisning av koncerngoodwill med information om hur nedskrivningsprövningen har utförts. Vi studerar i uppsatsen hur transparenta svenska storföretag är i sin redovisning av koncerngoodwill genom att undersöka efterlevnaden av upplysningskraven gällande nedskrivningsprövningen av goodwill för åren 2010 och 2005. Resultatet av vår undersökning har analyserats med grund i den teoretiska referensramen om Positive Accounting Theory och IASB:s kvalitativa egenskaper. Av vår undersökning kan vi konstatera att företagen uppfyller fler upplysningskrav 2010 jämfört med 2005, men att transparensen är låg i företagens goodwillredovisning för 2010. Den låga transparensen överensstämmer med Positive Accounting Theorys antagande att managers agerande styrs i eftersträvan av egen vinning och således avstår de från att upplysa om information som skulle sänka deras personliga nytta.

Big bath accounting är en strategi där beslutsfattarna i ett företag manipulerar det redovisade resultatet efter ens egna preferenser, ofta för att påverka resultatet negativt genom nedskrivning av immateriella tillgångar. Tidigare forskning har visat att fenomenet uppstår mer frekvent i samband med en nytillsatt VD.Uppsatsen syftar till att undersöka förekomsten av Big bath genom nedskrivning av goodwill bland börsnoterade bolag i Sverige, och ifall en nytillsatt VD kan vara en av förklaringarna till fenomenet. Studien har en deduktiv ansats och studiens frågeställningar har analyserats med hjälp av en kvantitativ dataanalys.Studiens insamlade data har hämtats ifrån företagens årsredovisningar under tidsperioden år 2005-2013. Den insamlade datan ligger till grund för de statistiska testerna som utförts. Resultatet visar att det finns ett samband mellan goodwillnedskrivningar och en nytillsatt VD samt goodwillnedskrivningar och ett negativt resultat. Vidare upptäcks ett positivt samband mellan Big bath och en nytillsatt VD samt Big bath och ett negativt resultat vilket tyder på att strategin existerar på Stockholmsbörsen.
Big bath accounting is a strategy where the decision makers of a company manipulates the stated result according to their own preferences, most often to influence the result negatively by writing down its intangible assets. Earlier studies have shown that this phenomenon occurs more frequently in connection with a newly appointed CEO.This paper aims to investigate the occurrence of Big bath by writing down goodwill among public companies in Sweden, and to investigate if a newly appointed CEO could be one of the explanations to this phenomenon. This study has a deductive approach and the research questions have been analyzed with a quantitative data analysis.The data in this study have been collected from the companies financial statements during the time period between 2005-2013. The collected data have been used for the statistical tests that this paper contains. The result shows a positive connection between writing down goodwill and a newly appointed CEO and also between writing down goodwill and a negative result. Furthermore, a positive connection was found between Big bath and a newly appointed CEO and also between Big bath and a negative result which indicates that this strategy exists on the Stockholm stock exchange.The essay is written in Swedish.

This thesis investigates the factors that influence the magnitude of goodwill impairment losses as well as the value relevance of these losses using a sample of 2,466 companies, drawn from 17 countries in which IFRSs have been made mandatory for all their domestic listed companies. The study period is 2007-2013 and includes 14,898 firm-year observations. The results obtained from the Tobit regression analysis involving variables drawn from agency/positive accounting theory, Hofstede’s theory of culture, as well as different theoretical institutional models, reveal that goodwill-impairment amounts are not only driven by economic factors and managerial reporting incentives, but also by country-specific factors, such as cultural and institutional variables. The results also confirm that the strength of the equity market is still the single most influential factor contributing not only to differences in accounting practices but above all, to differences in institutional quality between countries. The results of a K-means cluster analysis reveal that there are two groups of countries, corresponding to strong equity-outsider and weaker equity-outsider clusters. By comparing the relative associations between goodwill-impairment amounts and economic factors and managerial reporting incentives across these two institutional clusters, estimation results reveal that firms in the strong equity-outsider cluster have recorded goodwill-impairment losses that are, on the one hand, strongly associated with economic factors, and on the other hand, weakly associated with managerial reporting incentives. Further analysis also showed that while results for the pooled sample did not indicate that goodwill impairment losses were value relevant this was not the case for firms in the strong equity-outsider cluster, which have recorded impairment losses that are, on average, more relevant and more timely than those recorded by firms in the weaker equity-outsider cluster.

Syfte: Syftet med studien är att undersöka och förklara hur olika egenskaper hos ledarskapsfigurer (Verkställande direktör, ekonomichef) kan påverka goodwillnedskrivningar samt det redovisade värdet av goodwill. Metod: Studien tar en deduktiv ansats och grundas på en dokumentstudie, hypoteser har formats och analyserats samt därefter accepterats eller förkastats. Teoretiskt perspektiv: Studiens grundläggande teoretiska perspektiv är agentteorin samt den positiva redovisningsteorin. Andra teorier som belyses i studien är bland annat teorin om verkligt värde och beteende teorin inom bolag. Empiri: Studien är kvantitativ och består av data som insamlats från årsredovisningar av bolag noterade på Stockholmsbörsen. Slutsats: Datamaterialet kunde inte påvisa någon signifikans mellan nyckelpersonernas beteende och deras påverkan på goodwillnedskrivningar samt det redovisade värdet av goodwill.
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explain how different individual factors at an executive level (CEO, CFO) has an effect on goodwill impairments and the accounted value of goodwill. Methodology: The paper has an deductive approach and is based upon a document study at firms listed at Nasdaq OMX Stockholm. Theoretical perspective: The essential theoretical perspective is positive accounting theory and the agency theory. Other theoretical perspectives in this paper are fair-value theory and the behavioral theory of the firm. Empiric foundation: The empirical foundation in this paper is quantitative and is based on data collected from annual reports from the firms that are listed at the Nasdaq OMX Stockholm. Conclusions: The collected data couldn’t find any significance between the behavior of the key persons and goodwill impairment and the accounted value of goodwill.

In 2005, international accounting standards changed the treatment of goodwill, by replacingannual amortisation with impairment tests of goodwill. This has created a heated debate inaccounting research. Scholars are split whether the switch to impairment tests have increasedor decreased both accounting and audit quality. The subjective nature of impairment tests,deriving from being based on fair values and estimations have resulted in a rise of studiescovering its potential shortcomings.Main issues with impairment tests have been related to its possible impact on increase inearnings management (EM) engagement, dependence on estimations and discretionaryproblems. There are many surrounding questions regarding goodwill and EM, along with thecurrent goodwill rules being subject to criticism. This study aims to investigate further therelationship between goodwill and EM, as well as exploring the perception auditors haveregarding that topic and the related accounting standards. Moreover, we aim to get a betterunderstanding about the role the auditor possesses in both enabling and preventing EMactivities in private firms and public firms.Following a qualitative approach, this study explores previous literature within the field ofgoodwill and EM in addition to using 7 in-depth and semi-structured interviews withprofessionals in the audit industry based in Sweden and Luxembourg. Overall, we find auditorsto clearly be in favour of impairment tests compared to using amortisation of goodwill. Inregards to the risk of EM, the potential benefits of impairment tests outweigh the subjectiveissues according to the interviewed auditors. Furthermore, it seems like the verifiabilityproblem of impairment tests is more an issue in theory than in practice. The majority of theauditors believes the introduction of impairment tests of goodwill increased the accountingquality and did not significantly impact the audit quality, even if it gives auditors morechallenges in the audit tasks. In addition, the importance and prevalence of EM within goodwillbetween private and public firms had inconclusive results between the interviewees. Furtherresearch may investigate using a larger sample whether impairment tests are at the origin of anincrease of EM and comparing private and public firms.

Strategin Big Bath Accounting betecknar situationer då VD upprättar externredovisning efter förutbestämda mål och medvetet ändrar företagetsredovisningsmetoder. Artiklar som ifrågasätter företags externa redovisningförekommer regelbundet i svensk affärspress. Journalister diskuterar med storskepsis sanningen kring vissa börsbolags redovisade resultat. Uppsatsen syftartill att undersöka om denna strategi förekommer bland företag påStockholmsbörsen. Big Bath Accounting operationaliseras i denna studie tillnedskrivning av goodwill vid VD-byte eller vid negativt resultat. Studiengenomförs med ett positivistiskt angreppssätt och genom en hypotetisk-deduktivmetodologi undersöks de för studien fyra uppställda hypoteserna. Empirisktmaterial utgörs av årsredovisningar för perioden 2001-2006. Studiens analysvisar tydliga statistiska samband mellan nedskrivning av goodwill vid VD-byterespektive negativt resultat. De resultat som erhålls genom statistisk analysstyrker den teori som finns för området angående kreativ redovisning.
Uppsatsnivå: C

The purpose of this thesis is to determine if impairment of goodwill is a value relevant factor to the investors in the companies listed on the Stockholm Large Cap stock exchange. This paper focuses on the annual reports from the 100 largest companies listed on the exchange.   The empirical model used is Capital Market Research and Market Based Accounting Research which is derived from Positive Accounting Theory. Capital Market Research and Market Based Accounting Research are based on critical assumptions made in the Efficient Market Hypothesis which is why it has its own section in the theoretical chapter. The theoretical chapter contains extensive information regarding the components of goodwill, its uses in accounting and how it is meant to be dealt with.  The analysis connects our empirical findings with our empirical model in order to draw conclusions from the output gathered in Minitab. Our analysis shows that only small proportions of the large quantities of goodwill on the Swedish stock exchange are impaired on a yearly basis. We also find that impairment of goodwill does not have a significant impact on market value, however goodwill itself does.  Investors either do not view impairment of goodwill as value relevant, or the impairment was known beforehand and was therefore reflected in the price of the stock. Goodwill is considered value relevant most likely due to investors viewing the preeminence of goodwill as a sign that the company will draw benefit from the underlying assets for years to come.    We conclude that impairment of goodwill is not a value relevant factor to the investors in the Swedish stock exchange, but that goodwill, and increasing goodwill is. The paper ends with suggestions for further research.
Syftet med denna avhandling är att fastställa om nedskrivning av goodwill är en värderelevant faktor för investerarna på den svenska Large Cap-börsen. Denna avhandling fokuserar på årsredovisningarna från de 100 största bolagen som är noterade på denna börs.  De empiriska modeller som används är kapitalmarknadsforskning och marknadsbaserad redovisningsforskning, vilka båda härstammar från positiv redovisningsteori. Kapitalmarknadsforskning och marknadsbaserad redovisningsforskning baseras på viktiga antagande gjorda i den effektiva marknadshypotesen, som har sitt egna avsnitt under teorikapitlet. Teorikapitlet innehåller omfattande information gällande komponenterna i goodwill, dess användning inom redovisning samt hanteringen av goodwill.  Analysen kopplar samman våra empiriska fynd med vår empiriska modell i syfte att dra slutsatser kring resultaten som sammanställts från programmet  Minitab. Vår analys visar att förhållandevis små mängder av de enorma goodwillposterna på den svenska Large cap-börsen skrivs ner på årlig basis. Vi finner också att nedskrivning av goodwill inte har någon väsentlig påverkan på bolagets marknadsvärde, vilket däremot goodwillposten i sig har. Antingen så ser inte investerarna nedskrivning av goodwill som värderelevant eller så var nedskrivningarna kända i förväg och således redan inräknade i aktiens pris. Att goodwill i sig är betraktat som värderelevant beror troligen på att investerarna ser innehavet av goodwill som ett tecken på att bolaget kommer dra nytta av dessa underliggande tillgångar under de kommande åren.    Vi drar slutsatsen att nedskrivning av goodwill inte är en värderelevant faktor för investerarna på den svenska börsen, men däremot att goodwill och en ökning av goodwillposten är värderelevant. Uppsatsen avslutas med förslag till ytterligare forskning

SammandragGoodwill har de senaste åren fått en allt mer betydelsefull roll i svenska bolag och utgör idag majoriteten av köpeskillingen vid ett rörelseförvärv. Rådande redovisningsstandarder lämnar en stor del av ansvaret för köpeskillingsallokering hos bolagen själva, något som tidigare studier visat ger utrymme för opportunistiskt agerande. Vi undersöker i denna studie 213 rörelseförvärv gjorda på den svenska marknaden under åren 2011-2013. Via en multipel regressionsanalys finner vi belägg för att rörlig ersättning till företagsledare baserad på kortsiktiga resultatmål, tenderar att leda till en högre allokering till goodwill i relation till immateriella tillgångar vid rörelseförvärv. Resultatet kan tolkas som att företagsledare maximerar resultatet ur ett kortsiktigt perspektiv i syfte att också maximera sin egen lön. Detta skapar en problematik då företagsledare som agerar i egenintresse försvagar de kvalitativa karaktäristika IASB efterstävar vid standardsättande.
Abstract Goodwill has over the last years gained a more influential role in Swedish corporations and accounts for a majority of the purchase price during an acquisition. Current accounting standards leave a substantial part of the responsibility of the purchase price allocation to the firms themselves, something that previous studies have found gives room for opportunistic behavior. We study 213 company acquisitions on the Swedish market during the years of 2011-2013. Through a multiple regression analysis we find that short-term compensations based on short-term financial results, tend to lead to a higher allocation to goodwill in relation to intangible assets. These findings could be interpreted as an indication of executives striving to maximize short-term results in order to also maximize their compensation. This creates a problematic situation since executives acting in self-interest diminishes the qualitative characteristics IASB endeavor when setting accounting standards.

We investigate if the size of goodwill compared to total assets has any effect on the shareholders return on companies listed on the Swedish Stock market. We put up two different hypotheses with a foundation from previous research and later dismiss one of them. Our evidence does not show any indicators that the size of goodwill have an effect on the shareholders return, which brings us to believe that there, from a share holders point of view, isn’t any need for concern regarding the standards about accounting for goodwill as stated by IFRS.

Goodwill accounting treatment has been a subject of heated debate for a long time in many countries around the world. Changing to international accounting standards and settings was much discussed in Sweden. International Accounting Standard Board (IASB) issued Exposure Drafts, which were related to goodwill accounting treatment in 2002. In this thesis, two respondents groups’ positions, regarding the disclosure information on goodwill impairment test, and assumption are examined by studying comment letters that submitted to the IASB. It is suggested that the two groups lobbied the proposal because the new standard has economic consequences. The result shows that, as hypothesized, non-preparer group supported more than the preparer group for disclosing variety information on goodwill impairment test and assumption. Furthermore, it would be interesting to see what kind of arguments from two different groups, and how they argue for their positions. The result is both groups used IASB framework are based on useful arguments to support their positions at the same extent, although the objects behind the lobbying activities are different from two groups.

Bakgrund/problemområde: Goodwill har under en lång tid varit underlag för en rad studier om hur företagen redovisar och ska redovisa goodwill. IFRS baserar värderingen av goodwill på att företagsledningarna ska göra subjektiva bedömningar i form av uppskattningar och antaganden. Detta uppmuntrar vissa företag till att välja tillvägagångssätt som ger ett önskvärt resultat hos företagsledningen. Goodwill speglar den framtida intjäningsförmågan hos det förvärvade företaget och relaterar därmed till värderingen av verksamheten som en helhet. Det finns indikationer på att den information som bankerna ger ut gällande framtida goodwillnedskrivningar är avgörande för intressenterna i deras bedömning om bankernas prestationer över tiden. Studien fokuserar på fyra svenska bankers redovisning av goodwill, vilka innehar andelar i Baltikum. I en utgiven artikel av DN (2011-01-20) ”Borg: Vi var illa ute 2009” förklarar finansminister Anders Borg att det inte var många som förstod hur illa ute Sverige var när krisen i Lettland hade blivit ett faktum och Internationella valutafonden väntade. I studien granskades bankernas kvalitet på goodwillredovisningen.Frågor/syfte: Studiens huvudfråga är ”Hur redovisade Swedbank, SEB, Nordea och Handelsbanken goodwillen i Baltikum under år 2006 och 2009?” Huvudsyftet med studien är att genom ett deskriptivt och komparativt sätt se hur bankerna tolkade begreppet goodwill utifrån IFRS. Det vill säga hur de värderade och redovisade goodwillen i Baltikum utifrån IFRS år 2006 och 2009.Metod/teori: I studien antog vi ett tolkande tillvägagångssätt för att undersöka redovisningens kvalitet i de fyra bankernas årsredovisningar. I årsredovisningarna tolkade vi både kvalitativa och kvantitativa redovisningsdata. Vi gjorde en institutionell analys av IASB’s standarder för att se hur dessa tolkades i relation till de svenska normerna och den svenska redovisningskulturen. Senare i studien genomförde vi en deskriptiv och komparativ analys av textmaterialet i bankernas årsredovisningar i förhållande till IFRS och studiens teoretiska referensram. Två värderingsproblem kunde identifieras i litteraturen; (1) goodwillvärderingar baseras på förhandlande, vilket är en mycket subjektiv form vid bedömningen av goodwillens värde, och (2) ledningens ansvar är bortkopplat från goodwillredovisningen, eftersom att upplysningar om nedskrivningsprövningar är ofullständiga om hur goodwillens värde upprätthålls och förbättras.Studiens resultat: För att få kunskap om kvaliteten i bankernas goodwillvärderingar och goodwillredovisningar, så studerade vi de fyra bankernas tillvägagångssätt i samband med värdering och redovisning av goodwill. Vi fick reda på att; (a) det finns variationer i bankernas uppskattningar om värdet av goodwill som är svåra att hitta en rimlig förklaring på, (b) det konstaterades även att ledningarna är beroende av kriterier för nedskrivning och att de hade svårt att uppskatta goodwillens värde, (c) ett annat problem bland bankerna är att de hade svårt att uppskatta goodwillens livslängd, eftersom goodwill består av delar med olika livslängd, och (d) det sista kritiska resultatet är att bankernas upplysningar om goodwillvärderingar är kopplat till vilka upplysningar de ska ge och vilka upplysningar de inte ska ge. På grund av problemen med a, b och c så har de fyra bankerna svårt att lämna tillräckligt kvalitativ information om goodwillvärderingar i årsredovisningarna.
Program: Civilekonomprogrammet

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This study approaches the form of evaluation of the acquired goodwill and make other considerations on the goodwill developed internally in the companies, as well examine as the subsequent treatment to his evaluation. In the first chapter, it is make the introduction of the present study, where is made the historical considerations on the goodwill. Still in the first chapter it is exposed the context, the problem, the hypotheses, the objectives, the delimitation of the study, the justifications, the contributions and the research methodology used for the elaboration of this study. Being considering the goodwill an Intangible Assets, it is make soon afterwards an approach about the definition of Active Intangible, as well as his importance in the life of the companies. In the chapter III are examined some definitions of goodwill, as well the factors that do with that it exists, it is approached still some classifications attributed to the goodwill. In the chapter IV it is approached the form of evaluation of the goodwill when bought and some forms of evaluation of the goodwill when no bought, being included calculations exemplify. In the chapter V it is verified the relationship between the profit of a company and the existence of the goodwill. Soon afterwards are presented the forms of recognition accounting of the goodwill, as well as some comparative international practices. In the denominated chapter THE AGIO IN BRAZIL, are treated the registration forms and maintenance of the agio as active in the brazilian ambient, when in the study examples of her accountancy are included. Concluding the present study, are presented the conclusions on the theme
This study approaches the form of evaluation of the acquired goodwill and make other considerations on the goodwill developed internally in the companies, as well examine as the subsequent treatment to his evaluation. In the first chapter, it is make the introduction of the present study, where is made the historical considerations on the goodwill. Still in the first chapter it is exposed the context, the problem, the hypotheses, the objectives, the delimitation of the study, the justifications, the contributions and the research methodology used for the elaboration of this study. Being considering the goodwill an Intangible Assets, it is make soon afterwards an approach about the definition of Active Intangible, as well as his importance in the life of the companies. In the chapter III are examined some definitions of goodwill, as well the factors that do with that it exists, it is approached still some classifications attributed to the goodwill. In the chapter IV it is approached the form of evaluation of the goodwill when bought and some forms of evaluation of the goodwill when no bought, being included calculations exemplify. In the chapter V it is verified the relationship between the profit of a company and the existence of the goodwill. Soon afterwards are presented the forms of recognition accounting of the goodwill, as well as some comparative international practices. In the denominated chapter THE AGIO IN BRAZIL, are treated the registration forms and maintenance of the agio as active in the brazilian ambient, when in the study examples of her accountancy are included. Concluding the present study, are presented the conclusions on the theme
Este estudo aborda a forma de avalia????o do goodwill adquirido e faz outras considera????es sobre o goodwill desenvolvido internamente nas empresas, bem como examina o tratamento subseq??ente ?? sua mensura????o. No primeiro cap??tulo, faz-se a introdu????o do presente estudo, quando s??o feitas as considera????es hist??ricas sobre o goodwill. Ainda, no primeiro cap??tulo, exp??e-se o contexto, o problema, as hip??teses, os objetivos, a delimita????o do estudo, as justificativas, as contribui????es e a metodologia de pesquisa utilizada para a elabora????o deste estudo. Sendo considerando o goodwill um Ativo Intang??vel, faz-se em seguida uma abordagem sobre a defini????o de Ativo Intang??vel, bem como sua import??ncia na vida das empresas. No cap??tulo III s??o examinadas algumas defini????es de goodwill, bem como elencados fatores que fazem que ele exista. Exp??e-se, ainda, algumas classifica????es atribu??das ao goodwill. No capitulo IV aponta-se a forma de avalia????o do goodwill quando comprado e algumas formas de avalia????o do goodwill quando n??o comprado, incluindo-se c??lculos exemplificativos. No cap??tulo V verifica-se a rela????o entre o lucro de uma empresa e a exist??ncia do goodwill. Em seguida, s??o apresentadas as formas de reconhecimento cont??bil do goodwill, bem como algumas pr??ticas internacionais comparativas. No cap??tulo denominado O ??GIO NO BRASIL, s??o tratadas as formas de registro e manuten????o do ??gio como ativo no ambiente brasileiro, quando no estudo, s??o inclu??dos exemplos de sua contabiliza????o. Finalizando o presente estudo, s??o apresentadas as conclus??es sobre o tema.

 

Bakgrund: Sedan den 1 januari 2005 ska samtliga noterade bolag i Sverige tillämpa reglerna i IFRS vid upprättande av årsredovisning. Det innebär att goodwill inte längre ska skrivas av med samma belopp varje år över dess nyttjandeperiod, utan anses istället ha obestämbar nyttjandeperiod och ska testas minst årligen för nedskrivningsbehov. I och med denna regelövergång har den svenska redovisningen anpassats till den internationella och syftet är bland annat att öka jämförbarheten mellan bolag i olika länder. I en studie av Gauffin och Thörnsten (2010) kunde de visa att amerikanska noterade bolag skrev ned 30 procent av total goodwill under 2008, medan svenska noterade bolag endast skrev ned 1,5 procent. 2008 var ett år som i mångt och mycket präglades av en finansiell kris och påverkade bolag i både USA och Sverige. Trots det, samt att reglerna för hur goodwill ska hanteras är i stort sett identiska, är det ändå stora skillnader mellan länderna med avseende på nedskrivning.

Syfte: Syftet med studien är att förklara de förhållandevis låga nedskrivningar av goodwill som gjorts bland noterade företag på Stockholmsbörsen under år 2008 samt att förklara hur svenska företag resonerar kring goodwill.

Genomförande: Studien omfattar en genomgång av årsredovisningar för åren 2007-2009 upprättade av samtliga noterade företag på Stockholmsbörsen, varigenom uppgifter samlats om bolagens goodwill och nedskrivningar etcetera. Till det har intervjuer gjorts med sex olika företag samt med tre experter.

Resultat: Studien har lett fram till ett antal möjliga förklaringar till de förhållandevis låga nedskrivningarna i Sverige under år 2008. Den främsta förklaringen tycks dock ligga i att det finns en brist på granskning av noterade företag i Sverige. Goodwill och nedskrivningsprövning verkar inte vara något som bolagen vill lägga någon vidare tid och energi på, för att värderingen ska göras på ett tillförlitligt sätt. Ett sådant synsätt skulle med all rimlighet ändras om de svenska företagen stod under övervakning i en större utsträckning, så som amerikanska bolag gör. På så sätt kan en felaktig hantering av goodwill leda till konsekvenser för företagen, vilket pressar dem att tillämpa gällande regler så som det är tänkt.

 

 

Background: Since January 1st 2005 all public companies in Sweden must apply the international rules IFRS in their annual reports. That means that goodwill is no longer amortized with the same amount every year over its useful life, but is instead considered to have an indefinite life and should be tested at least annually for impairment. Due to this rule transition, the rules for accounting in Sweden have converged with the international rules and one aim is to increase the comparability between companies in different countries. A study made by Gauffin and Thörnsten (2010) showed that the impairments made by American public companies composed by 30 percent of the total value of goodwill in 2008, while the corresponding percentage in Sweden the same year was only 1,5. 2008 was the year when the financial crisis began, which affected companies in both the US and in Sweden. Despite of that, and that the rules for goodwill accounting are basically the same, there is still a significant difference between the two countries in regard to impairment charges of goodwill.

Aim: The aim of this study is to explain the relatively low impairment charges of goodwill among companies listed at Stockholmsbörsen in the year of 2008, and to explain how Swedish companies view on goodwill.

Completion: This study includes a review of the annual reports for 2007-2009 from all companies listed on Stockholmsbörsen, where data related to the companies goodwill and impairment tests has been collected. Also, interviews have been done with six different companies and three experts.

Results: The study has generated several possible explanations for the relatively low impairment charges in Sweden in 2008. The main explanation seems to be related to the fact that there is a lack of scrutiny for public companies in Sweden. Goodwill and impairment test is something that the companies doesn´t want to put much time and effort into, in order to make a reliable valuation. This behaviour would most reasonably change if the Swedish companies were more scrutinized, like the American companies are. In that way, an inaccurate valuation of goodwill would lead to consequences for the companies, which pressures them to apply the rules as it is supposed to.

 

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo principal demonstrar que parcela da base de depositantes de instituições financeiras que se utilizam de depósitos (a prazo e a vista) como fonte de financiamento das suas atividades, identificada pelos depósitos estáveis, representa um ativo intangível da instituição depositária. Esse ativo intangível decorrente dos depósitos estáveis, quando passível de identificação específica, explica parte do goodwill da instituição depositária, pelo fato do goodwill ser um ativo residual dependente principalmente da avaliação da empresa como um todo. Sendo o valor do goodwill determinado pela diferença entre o fair value da entidade como um todo, como um ativo único em continuidade, e a soma algébrica dos fair values dos ativos líquidos identificáveis dessa entidade, à medida que novos ativos antes não contabilizados são identificados, está-se explicado a natureza do goodwill, assim como está-se auxiliando na sua atribuição de valor. Portanto a identificação de mais um ativo intangível das instituições financeiras implica na identificação de parcelas componentes do goodwill, que englobava esse ativo intangível antes da identificação do ativo intangível, assim como também implica na explicação econômica de parte do goodwill. Para que o objetivo pudesse ser alcançado, comparou-se as características econômicas e contábeis dos ativos, dos ativos intangíveis e do goodwill com as características econômicas e contábeis dos depósitos estáveis, chegando-se à conclusão de que tais depósitos representam um ativo intangível, identificável em separado e passível de registro contábil. O registro contábil desse ativo intangível nas demonstrações contábeis utilizadas para fins de publicação é atualmente possível somente quando a instituição depositária tiver sido objeto de compra por outra entidade. Caso isso não tenha ocorrido, alternativamente pode-se fazer uso do ativo intangível para fins de controle gerencial. O trabalho também apresenta um caso real de avaliação dos depósitos estáveis como forma de corroborar a possibilidade de identificação e avaliação do ativo intangível decorrente desses depósitos.
The main objective of the present work is to demonstrate that a part of the depository base of financial institutions that make use of (time and demand) deposits as a source of funding for their activities, which is identified by stable deposits, represents an intangible asset of the depositary institution. When its specific identification is possible, this intangible asset, which results from the stable deposits, explains a part of the goodwill of the depositary institution, considering that goodwill is a residual asset that mainly depends on the valuation of the company as a whole. As the value of goodwill is determined by the difference between the fair value of the entity as a whole, that is, as a unique asset in a going concern, and the algebraic sum of the fair values of the entity’s identifiable net assets, to the extent that new assets are identified, which were not recorded before, the nature of goodwill is explained and its value attribution is enhanced. Hence, the identification of another intangible asset in the financial institutions implies the identification of new parts of the goodwill, which incorporated this intangible asset before the identification of the intangible asset, as well as the explanation of the economic nature of goodwill. To achieve this goal, the economic and accounting characteristics of assets, intangible assets and goodwill were compared to the economic and accounting characteristics of the stable deposits, which led to the conclusion that those deposits represent an intangible asset, which can be identified separately and can be registered in the accounting records. The accounting record of this intangible asset in the financial statements, which are used for publication, is only possible nowadays when the depositary institution has been the target of a purchase by another entity. In case this has not happened, the intangible asset can alternatively be used for management control. The present work also presents a real case of stable deposit valuation, so as to corroborate the possibility of identification and valuation of intangibles resulting from the stable deposits.

This thesis contributes to an understanding of capital budgeting and accounting practice. The factors affecting practice are of special research interest. It is also investigated whether practice diverges from what is prescribed by finance text books and accounting standards/frameworks. The overarching research question posed in this thesis is: “What capital budgeting and accounting choices are made by top management in practice, and how can these choices be explained?”. The thesis consists of four papers that address this issue. The first two papers focused on capital budgeting choices. Findings emphasised that the use of sophisticated capital budgeting and cost of capital estimation methods such as NPV and CAPM was widespread in Swedish listed companies. However, also unsophisticated accounting based methods were employed. Overall, findings suggested that Swedish companies used capital budgeting and cost of capital estimation techniques less often than did U.S./continental European companies. Other interesting findings were changes over time. Over time, the use of sophisticated methods increased and the use of unsophisticated methods decreased. This indicated a closing of the theory-practice gap. Finally, size was generally positively related to more extensive use of methods. The last two papers focused on accounting choices. Findings showed that non-preparers supported amortisation of goodwill to a greater extent than did preparers. Preparers instead supported the goodwill impairment-only approach. It was suggested that economic consequences could explain why preparers supported the goodwill impairment-only approach. When the impairment-only approach subsequently was introduced by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), Swedish and Dutch preparers however only disclosed slightly more than 60% of the assumptions underlying the impairment test, after three years of learning. Moreover, findings showed that the level of compliance with the IASB’s disclosure requirements was associated with industry; financials were less compliant than were non-financials. Findings also showed that Swedish and Dutch companies were more compliant in 2008 than they were in 2005, which suggested learning over time. Finally, in 2005 the disclosure compliance level was higher in Sweden than in the Netherlands. Three years later, 2008, the difference was eliminated, thus indicating convergence.