Definition
The term excess of cost over fair market value of net assets refers to the difference between the price paid for a bundle of assets and their net value as determined through a professional appraisal. Determining the excess of cost over fair market value is typically required when one business buys another, with the excess cost being applied to goodwill on the balance sheet.
Calculation
Goodwill = Purchase Price - (Assessed Value of Assets - Liabilities)
Where
Fair Market Value of Net Assets = Assessed Value of Assets - Liabilities
Explanation
When one business acquires assets from another, the acquiring business must determine if the price paid for those assets was in excess of their fair market value. When one company acquires another, this process becomes more complex because this assessment will involve both assets and liabilities of the acquired business.
This process is more complicated than simply comparing the price paid to the net book value of the assets. While it might seem counterintuitive for a company to pay a premium over net book value, this can happen for some very good reasons, including:
Negotiating Skills: oftentimes the price paid is both a function of the assets involved in the transaction as well as the negotiating skills of each party.
Inventories: if the acquired company used a LIFO approach to valuing inventory, and the prices for their products have been increasing over time, the value of inventory appearing on the balance sheet may be understated.
Property, Plant, Equipment: estimates of useful lives may have been too conservative, resulting in equipment with significant serviceable life remaining, but little or no net book value.
Intangible Assets: this category can include future earning potential, strong brand loyalty, exceptional credit ratings, as well as a superior management team or employee base.
When the purchase price is different than the fair market value of net assets, the difference is categorized as goodwill.
Example
Company A has entered into an agreement to acquire Company B for $1,500,000. The balance sheet of Company B is as follows:
Assets | |
Cash | $90,000 |
Receivables | $75,000 |
Inventories | $200,000 |
Property, Plant, Equipment | $900,000 |
Total Assets | $1,265,000 |
Liabilities and Owner's Equity | |
Current Liabilities | $125,000 |
Capital Stock | $500,000 |
Retained Earnings | $640,000 |
Total Liabilities and Owner's Equity | $1,265,000 |
Prior to acquisition, Company A hired an appraiser to assess the value of Company B's assets. During that review, inventories were valued at $350,000 and property, plant and equipment at $1,000,000. This assessment resulted in a fair market value of net assets of $1,390,000 as demonstrated in the table below.
Master Valuation Approach | |
Cash | $90,000 |
Receivables | $75,000 |
Inventories | $350,000 |
Property, Plant, Equipment | $1,000,000 |
Current Liabilities | ($125,000) |
Fair Market Value of Net Assets | $1,390,000 |
Purchase Price | $1,500,000 |
Goodwill | $110,000 |
Since the price paid for these assets was $1,500,000, Company A booked $110,000 to the intangible asset goodwill.
Related Terms
Also known as a statement of financial position, the balance sheet is used to show the financial health of a company at a particular point in time. The balance sheet consists of assets, liabilities, and owner's equity in the company. It is one of the four key financial statements issued by public companies.
Moneyzine EditorJanuary 8th, 2024
The financial accounting term goodwill refers to the present value of earnings that are in excess of normal profitability for a particular industry. Goodwill is commonly recorded when a business is acquired and the price paid is in excess of the book value of the company.Moneyzine EditorJanuary 19th, 2024
The accounting term used to describe an economic resource, which is owned by the corporation and expected to provide future benefits to its operation, is asset. Appearing on the balance sheet, assets are typically broken down into two categories:Moneyzine EditorJanuary 5th, 2024.png)
The financial accounting term liability is used to describe the debt of a corporation that results from a transaction involving the transfer of an asset or the provision of a service. Liabilities are reported on a company's balance sheet.Moneyzine EditorJanuary 23rd, 2024- The financial accounting term property, plant, and equipment is used to describe assets of a long lasting nature, which are used in the normal operation of the company. The most common types of property, plant, and equipment are land, buildings, and machinery.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 21st, 2023
- The financial accounting term service life is used to describe the period of time over which an asset can be expected to perform its intended use. Service life is typically limited by two factors: physical wear and obsolescence.Moneyzine EditorSeptember 21st, 2023
The financial accounting term inventory is used to describe the balance sheet line item that includes the value of raw materials, work in process, finished goods ready for sale, and returned goods that can be resold.Moneyzine EditorJanuary 22nd, 2024
The financial accounting term intangible asset is used to describe those assets that lack physical structure (they cannot be seen or measured), and have a high degree of uncertainty surrounding future benefits to be derived from them. The most common types of intangible assets appearing on the balance sheet are goodwill, copyrights, trademarks, patents, franchises, and organization costs.Moneyzine EditorJanuary 22nd, 2024
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