Accounting for Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Concepts, methods, and issues in calculating the fair value of intangibles

Accounting for Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets is a guide to one of the most challenging aspects of business valuation. Not only must executives and valuation professionals understand the complicated set of rules and practices that pertain to intangibles, they must also be able to recognize when to apply them. Inside, readers will find these many complexities clarified. Additionally, this book assists professionals in overcoming the difficulties of intangible asset accounting, such as the lack of market quotes and the conflicts among various valuation methodologies.

Even the rarest and most problematic situations are treated in detail in Accounting for Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. For example, the authors analyze principles for identifying finite intangible assets and appropriately accounting for amortization expenses or impairment losses. Using the information in this book, the results of these calculations can also be reported with precision on financial statements. These topics are especially important for ensuring the success of any asset acquisition or business combination. In these special cases, the utmost accuracy is essential. This book provides:

• Rules for identifying and recognizing intangible assets in business combinations and asset acquisitions
• Guidance on the accurate valuation and carrying amount calculation of acquired and self-created intangibles
• Tips for overcoming the challenges unique to intangible assets, including impairment testing
• Clear instructions for disclosing intangible assets, goodwill, and amortization expenses

Accounting for Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets is an indispensable reference for valuation students and specialists. Ervin L. Black and Mark L. Zyla provide thorough instructions for understanding, accounting for, and reporting this challenging asset class.

About the Authors

ERVIN L. BLACK, PHD, holds the Rath Chair in Accounting and is a Professor of Accounting at the University of Oklahoma. Widely published on financial and international accounting, he currently serves as the editor of the Journal of International Accounting Research and is co-author of the BNA Tax and Accounting Portfolio 5170, Business Combinations (Accounting Policy and Practice Series).

MARK L. ZYLA, CPA/ABV, CFA, ASA, is a Managing Director of Acuitas Inc., a valuation and litigation consultancy firm. He is the author of Fair Value Measurements: Practical Guidance and Implementation, and co-author of Bloomberg BNA's Tax and Accounting Portfolio 5127, Fair Value Measurements: Valuation Principles and Auditing Techniques (Accounting Policy and Practice Series).