Goodwill: Have new rules killed mergers?

Goodwill can have a big impact on any M&A transaction. The authors examined recent financial statements to determine the effect of the latest goodwill standards. While merger activity is alive and well, the economic downturn has led many firms to write down their goodwill. Were the latest rules responsible for a decline in M&A? © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]