<p>In 2005 a new recommendation was implemented, IAS 36 "Impairment of intangible assets". The Swedish translation of the recommendation is RR 17. The previous treatment of impairment of goodwill was to amortize it over a certain amount of years. In order for a company to make impairment, they had to estimate the decrease in value of goodwill to be permanent. The new recommendation RR 17 on the other hand states that goodwill should be impaired as soon as an indication of impairment loss is revealed. This implies that the new recommendation shows the fair value of goodwill. Our problem description is; <em>how does the impairment procedure of goodwill in companies applying RR 17 look like?</em></p><p>In order to reach the purpose of this study, which is to understand the impairment procedure of goodwill, we used four sub questions; (1) How does goodwill arise? (2) How is goodwill divided between cash generating units? (3) How do stock listed business combinations in accordance with RR 17 estimate whether an impairment loss of goodwill exist or not, in cases where goodwill exist, how is it impaired? (4) How is goodwill revalued and how often?</p><p>The study has mainly taken a hermeneutic approach because we strive to understand the impairment procedure of goodwill. We conducted a qualitative study, with semi- structured interviews. Four companies, which operate in somewhat different branches, were chosen in order to get a diversified illustration of different business areas and see if there were any differences between them.</p><p>Our central concepts present general accounting principles as well as accounting principles handling impairment of goodwill, which helps the reader to receive a better understanding of the essential concepts concerning the impairment procedure of goodwill. In the analysis we connect our empirical findings with the central concepts in order to discover more dimensions of the impairment procedure of goodwill.</p><p>The result from our interviews showed that the companies follow the recommendation RR 17. However we could identify some differences between the companies, which we believe are due to the fact that the companies operate in different business areas and are therefore faced with somewhat diverse risks. Further we could link the differences to be correlated to the mindsets and demands of the companies’ auditors.</p><p>Finally we want to make the reader aware of the fact that the recommendation RR 17 has so far only been applied in an economic boom and therefore when we conducted this study the need to impair goodwill was very small.</p><p> </p>

In 2005 a new recommendation was implemented, IAS 36 "Impairment of intangible assets". The Swedish translation of the recommendation is RR 17. The previous treatment of impairment of goodwill was to amortize it over a certain amount of years. In order for a company to make impairment, they had to estimate the decrease in value of goodwill to be permanent. The new recommendation RR 17 on the other hand states that goodwill should be impaired as soon as an indication of impairment loss is revealed. This implies that the new recommendation shows the fair value of goodwill. Our problem description is; how does the impairment procedure of goodwill in companies applying RR 17 look like? In order to reach the purpose of this study, which is to understand the impairment procedure of goodwill, we used four sub questions; (1) How does goodwill arise? (2) How is goodwill divided between cash generating units? (3) How do stock listed business combinations in accordance with RR 17 estimate whether an impairment loss of goodwill exist or not, in cases where goodwill exist, how is it impaired? (4) How is goodwill revalued and how often? The study has mainly taken a hermeneutic approach because we strive to understand the impairment procedure of goodwill. We conducted a qualitative study, with semi- structured interviews. Four companies, which operate in somewhat different branches, were chosen in order to get a diversified illustration of different business areas and see if there were any differences between them. Our central concepts present general accounting principles as well as accounting principles handling impairment of goodwill, which helps the reader to receive a better understanding of the essential concepts concerning the impairment procedure of goodwill. In the analysis we connect our empirical findings with the central concepts in order to discover more dimensions of the impairment procedure of goodwill. The result from our interviews showed that the companies follow the recommendation RR 17. However we could identify some differences between the companies, which we believe are due to the fact that the companies operate in different business areas and are therefore faced with somewhat diverse risks. Further we could link the differences to be correlated to the mindsets and demands of the companies’ auditors. Finally we want to make the reader aware of the fact that the recommendation RR 17 has so far only been applied in an economic boom and therefore when we conducted this study the need to impair goodwill was very small.

The main goal of this thesis is to create a comprehensive view of the measurement of assets in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards with closer focus on the impaiment tests of assets in accordance with IAS 36 Impairment of Assets. The thesis is divided into several parts the first of which is general and deals with the definition of assets, the conditions for their dislosure in the statement of financial position and methods of their valuation. This part is followed by the third chapter, which at first approaches the valuation models applicable on current and non-current assets, which are excluded from the scope of IAS 36, and then describes the principles of impairment tests of individual assets. The fourth chapter deals with impairment tests of cash-generation units, including goodwill and the allocation of corporate assets. The last part of this thesis contains examples from real financial statements, aim of which is to approach demands of IAS 36 concerning disclosure.

The thesis is divided into two main parts. The first part is focused on the impairment of assets according to czech law, the second part focuses on the impairment of assets under IFRS. In both parts there is short chapter about valuation, followed by chapters: depreciation, impairment of longlived tangible assets, longlived intangible assets, inventories, receivables and financial assets. In the IFRS part there is also described impairment of assets held for sale.

This diploma thesis deals with the issue of impairment tests of long-lived assets in the context of the International financial reporting standards with a particular focus on IAS 36 Impairment of assets. The thesis is divided into several parts which deals with the issue of measurement and recognition of assets and impairment test principles followed by specific procedures of impairment tests of individual long-lived assets as well as cash-generating units and goodwill. There is a continuous comparison with the Czech GAAP and US GAAP as well as analysis of information published in financial statements.

The main object of this thesis is to show measurement of assets and its changes under International Financial Reporting Standards with closer focus on impairment testing according to IAS 36 - Impairment of Assets. The first part of the thesis introduces definition of assets and possible measurement bases used at first time recognition and reporting date. The main part deals with impairment testing of individual assets and cash-generating units. There is described when the impairment testing must be performed, how to determine the size of impairment loss and possibilities of abolishing the impairment loss. At the end of the thesis is analyzed actual impairment test.

This thesis deals with the requirements of how to approach the issue of testing the value of assets in accounting and recognition of an impairment loss under IFRS and U.S. GAAP. The main objective was to create a comprehensive view of this specific area, eventually determine differences in accounting and reporting between IFRS and US GAAP. There is mostly characteristic of IAS 36 Impairment of Assets and SFAS 144 Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, which specify when and how to entity test, identify, report impairment loss. The work also describes the basics of valuation of assets, mainly deals with the measurement by using historical cost and fair value.

This master's thesis is focused on a prudence principle under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) a US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP) in accounting of a reporting unit. In the first part I described the prudence principle (conservatism principle) in the general way. In the second part of this thesis I introduced impairment testing, recognition of impairment of assets and reversal of previously recognized impairment of assets under IAS 36 Impairment of Assets. It is obviously focused on recoverable amount as a fair value less costs to sell and value in use, methods of the fair value valuation, computing value in use and identifying the appropriate discount rate to apply expected future cash flows. Third chapter of this master's thesis, named "Provisions under IAS 37", is dealing with relation between provisions and contingent liabilities, initial liability measurement and subsequent applying IAS 37. There are also stated disclosure requirements under IAS 37 (as well as under IAS 36). Within the scope of this part are in detail described Exposure Draft ED/2005 and Exposure Draft ED/2010/1 published from International Accounting Standard Board IASB in 2005 and 2010 as proposal to improvement of current version of standard IAS 37. This thesis is also focused on differences between accounting principles of prudence principle in IFRS and US GAAP. Finally, in the last chapter I analysed 15 annual reports of airlines companies in the world, which present their financial statements under IFRS. The results according to impairment of assets including goodwill, provisions and disclosures of contingent liabilities are presented in the charts. This master's thesis, named "Prudence principle in generally accepted accounting systems" is completed with practical insights and cases in each of chapters.