Transparent financial disclosure and SFAS No. 142

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine whether companies are providing transparent financial disclosures in compiling with the provisions of SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, and to determine whether the adequacy of these disclosures is impacted by firm size.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a random sample of companies that reported goodwill impairments for the first year of adoption of SFAS No. 142. The firms were then stratified into three groups according to asset size. Subsequent analysis consisted of assessing the financial transparency of companies' goodwill reporting practices in total and by firm size, utilizing an approach suggested in Adams.

Findings

The study's findings suggest that many companies are not willing to provide additional voluntary disclosures to improve financial transparency, despite having the necessary information easily accessible. It also found that compliance with the provisions of SFAS 142 was sporadic and unpredictable.

Originality/value

This study provides evidence that companies are not providing transparent financial information.

Citation

Sevin, S., Schroeder, R. and Bhamornsiri, S. (2007), "Transparent financial disclosure and SFAS No. 142", Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 22 No. 7, pp. 674-687. https://doi.org/10.1108/02686900710772582