What is goodwill?

Have you ever seen goodwill on a balance sheet and wondered what it is?

Goodwill is an intangible asset that’s recorded when one company acquires another company for a price that is greater than the fair value of the target company’s net assets.

Purchase price - fair value of net identifiable assets = goodwill

So let’s say Microsoft decides to buy Pinterest.

Let’s also assume the fair value of Pinterest’s assets is $30 billion and the fair value of its liabilities is $5 billion, which means the fair value of its net identifiable assets is $25 billion.

If Microsoft pays $32 billion to acquire 100% of Pinterest, then Microsoft would record $7 billion of goodwill, calculated as follows:

Purchase price of $32 billion - $25 billion FV of net identifiable assets = $7 billion of goodwill

Thus, goodwill isn’t tangible property and it’s not something you can sell or trade. It’s simply the premium the company paid for another company’s net assets.

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[wonjoann]

thank you so much, i will always be grateful to your channel. your explanation is easy to understand even thought english is not my first language.

[Ann-ovss]

Thank you very much sir ❤ You have explained it in a very comprehensice language 🫶🥹

[petergrey]

Since Fair Value of the net assets is 25 billion, can I say 32 billion is not "fair" for Microsoft to acquire 100% of Pinterest?