The Value Relevance of Goodwill: IFRSs and Global Financial Crisis (GFC)

Abstract

This study contributes to the issue of accounting for goodwill by examining the impact of changing from the Australian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (AGAAP) to Australian International Financial Reporting Standards (AIFRS) on goodwill, 3 years (2002 to 2004) before and 3 years (2006 to 2008) after AIFRS adoption. The sample is drawn from top 200 companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). This study applies multiple regressions. The dependent variable is the closing share price 3 months after the balance sheet date. The independent variables consist of earnings per share, book value per share, goodwill in the balance sheet, goodwill in the income statement (goodwill amortisation and goodwill impairment) and goodwill acquisition. The findings indicate that goodwill accounted for in the income statement and balance sheet do not provide increased explanatory power of market value under AIFRS compared to AGAAP. Moreover, the goodwill in the income statement does not show value relevance in year 2007, but became significant in year 2008 during the global financial crisis (GFC). Also, the age of goodwill recorded in the balance sheet does not affect the value relevance of earnings and book value in the post-adoption period. This study contributes new evidence on accounting for goodwill under pre and post-IFRS accounting regimes in Australia. This is also the first study to examine the separate effects of goodwill accounting on earnings and net assets, with special attention given to the period before and during the GFC in capital markets.