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Goodwill on investment refers to the amount paid for an acquisition that exceeds the fair market value of the acquired assets and liabilities. In other words, it is the premium paid by the acquirer over the net tangible assets of the acquired company.

 

Goodwill arises when a company is willing to pay more for an acquisition than the value of the assets and liabilities that it is acquiring. This can occur for several reasons, such as the acquired company's reputation, brand name, customer base, intellectual property, or other intangible assets that are not reflected in the net tangible assets of the company.

 

Goodwill is recorded as an asset on the balance sheet of the acquiring company and is subject to periodic impairment tests to ensure that it is not overstated. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment charge must be recognized in the income statement.

 

Goodwill on investment is an important concept in mergers and acquisitions as it allows companies to pay a premium for an acquisition in order to gain access to valuable intangible assets that can help drive future growth and profitability.

 

1. Company A acquires Company B for $10 million, even though the net tangible assets of Company B are only worth $8 million. The $2 million premium paid by Company A is recorded as goodwill on its balance sheet.
2. A popular social media platform acquires a start-up that has developed a new technology for analyzing user behavior. Although the start-up has few tangible assets, the social media platform pays a premium to acquire the company's technology and talent. The premium paid is recorded as goodwill on the social media platform's balance sheet.
3. A pharmaceutical company acquires a smaller biotech company that has developed a promising new drug, even though the net tangible assets of the biotech company are relatively modest. The pharmaceutical company pays a premium for the biotech company's intellectual property and research capabilities and records the premium as goodwill on its balance sheet.
4. A retail chain acquires a popular brand of clothing, paying a premium for the brand's reputation and loyal customer base. The premium paid is recorded as goodwill on the retail chain's balance sheet.
5. A software company acquires a smaller competitor that has developed a popular app with a large user base. Although the app has few tangible assets, the software company pays a premium to acquire the app's user data and engagement metrics. The premium paid is recorded as goodwill on the software company's balance sheet.