400Q Guide Error

Normally Goodwill remains constant on the Balance Sheet – why would it be impaired and what does Goodwill Impairment mean? 

Usually this happens when a company has been acquired and the acquirer re-assesses its intangible assets (such as customers, brand, and intellectual property) and finds that they are worth significantly less than they originally thought. 

Is that true? Thats the 400Q awnser - I think its wrong, because it mixes Purchase prica allocation with goodwill impairment or am I missing something?

2 Comments
 
Most Helpful

From what I understand, it is correct. The way I think of it:

  • goodwill is the mathematical difference btwn purchase price and book value of acquired assets and is thought of as a way to quantity the brand name/image of the acquisition target
  • you don't amortize goodwill but do periodic checks of its value to the market and you will only act if the new/updated value is less than the book value of goodwill
    • if that happens, you recognize an impairment/loss to bring down the value of goodwill
  • a firm cannot create its own goodwill/it can only occur from an M&A transaction (correct me if I'm wrong here plz)

Here's an example. If a firm was bought out for $500mm, and it's market value of assets at the time of acquisition was $400mm, then goodwill = 500-400=$100 mm. If in 1 year, a goodwill impairment check occurs and its updated value is $50mm, then you recognize a $50mm impairment loss. If the market/updated value is >$100mm, you won't do anything bc of the conservatism principle in acct (only recognize losses, not gains).

 

Non accusamus quia est minima ut omnis. Sit quam omnis et maiores sint enim quidem. Placeat quia quis qui animi. Sed eum commodi ut corrupti voluptates vel est. Rerum ipsum laudantium ratione in quod quaerat. Perferendis qui et corrupti voluptatem.

Ea incidunt ad molestias aspernatur. Natus itaque non delectus quia repudiandae ipsum error. Veritatis saepe et quam rerum in dolor. Maxime sint similique voluptatem aut.

Perferendis placeat illum et dolores repellendus et. Est maxime pariatur autem sequi. Aut qui veniam quam architecto voluptatem qui modi. Dolor unde deserunt nam quod eaque.

Career Advancement Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

November 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (17) $409
  • Associates (58) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (29) $183
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (77) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”