Goodwill Calculation - Equity Value or Enterprise Value

Is goodwill calculated using Enterprise Value or Equity Value:

Example: If we buy a company with $100 stock price, with 10 shares and $500 of existing debt, and book value of 200 (Assuming we buy up both debt and assets)

Is goodwill then: A) $1000 - 200 = $800 B) $1500 - 200 = $1300

I'm guessing it's B because you wouldn't add that $500 of debt to your BS so in order to balance the decrease in cash of $1500 you need $1300 of goodwill (assuming cash purchase)

Anyone have insight?

6 Comments
 

I think its A.

Goodwill = Purchase Price - Book Value

Goodwill = 1000 - 200 = 800

Just to clarify, I understood that you purchased the company for 100$ a Share.

If you paid 1500 then G = 1300

 

In this example you would be buying the equity at $100 (for a total Equity value of $1000), but the TEV would be 1500. Would purchase price be only the equity value you buy ($1000) or the TEV ($1500) (if you assume no debt)

 
Most Helpful

It's based off of equity value, but you're kind of missing the mechanics. In purchase accounting, goodwill represents the amount paid over the fair market value of the company. So, when you purchase a company, you go through this exercise of marking the assets and liabilities (if applicable for the liability) to market. Technically, the assets will include intangible assets that aren't normally recorded on the balance sheet like customer relationships, brand names, and intellectual property.

The difference between the fair value of assets and liabilities should be the fair value of the company, but of course that will never reconcile to what a purchaser actually paid, so we use goodwill to balance everything out. I'd recommend reading a summary of FAS 141R if you're interested in learning more of the specifics.

 

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