Factors explaining the impairment of goodwill in Spanish listed groups

Factores explicativos del deterioro del fondo de comercio en los grupos cotizados españoles

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Abstract

Objective. To analyze which factors may influence the decision to recognize goodwill impairment losses when the net book value exceeds its recoverable amount.
Methodology. A multivariate logistic regression model was applied to a sample of listed companies, all of them dominating groups of companies presenting consolidated accounts in
Spain during the period 2014-2018. Results. The losses recorded by the entity, impairments booked in previous years, as well as size, are aspects that positively influence the recognition
of goodwill impairment. Conclusions. This work detects a certain discretionary behavior on
the part of managers due to the complexity involved in performing the goodwill impairment
test, in addition to its lack of precision.

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Author Biographies / See

María Pilar Blasco Burriel, Universidad de Zaragoza

Doctora en Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales. Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, España

Alicia Costa, Universidad de Zaragoza

Doctora en Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales. Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, España.

Jorge Olmo, Universidad de Zaragoza

Doctor en Contabilidad y Finanzas. Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, España.

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