Define the Following Terms

Question

Examlex · Accepted Answer

The Answer is (a) Varying approaches are used to define goodwill. They are:

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Goodwill should be measured initially as the excess of the fair value of the acquisition cost over the fair value of the net assets acquired.

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Goodwill is sometimes defined as one or more unidentified intangible assets and identifiable intangible assets that are not reliably measurable. Examples of elements of goodwill include new channels of distribution, synergies of combining sales forces, and a superior management team.

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Goodwill may also be defined as the intrinsic value that a business has acquired beyond the mere value of its net assets whether due to the personality of those conducting it, the nature of its location, its reputation, or any other circumstance incidental to the business and tending to make it permanent. Another definition is the capitalized value of the excess of estimated future profits of a business over the rate of return on capital considered normal in the industry.
(b) Negative goodwill develops when the fair value of the assets purchased is higher than the cost. This situation may develop from a market imperfection. In this case, the seller would have been better off to sell the assets individually than in total. However, situations do occur (e.g., a forced liquidation or distressed sale due to the death of the company founder), in which the purchase price is less than the value of the identifiable net assets.

Define the Following Terms

Definitions: