| 摘要Abstract | 本文旨在探討何種因素造成有些英國公司選擇把購併取得的 商譽由股東權益的減項追溯認列於資產負債表的無形資產。雖然大 部分公司選擇避免追溯認列而直接保留商譽於股東權益的減項，但 仍有些公司在首次適用英國第十號公報（商譽）時，選擇成本較高 的追溯認列法。我們的實證結果指出，樣本公司通常在有較高的負 債時會選擇追溯認列法，符合「債務訂約」假說。但「訊號假 說」、「政治成本假說」與「權益訂約假說」並未獲得支持。當公 司採追溯調整法處理過去由購併而取得商譽，其動機可能來自於為 降低財務困難的成本及未來重新協議新的優惠債務條件等。由於英 國第十號公報與國際財務報導準則第一號——首次適用，在商譽部 分的規定極為相似，而臺灣在 2013 年將全面採行國際財務報導準 則，我們認為英國商譽的會計處理準則適用過程與經驗，有助於提 升各界對國際財務報導準則首次適用的認知與瞭解。同時，我們的 研究結果也指出，首次適用對於追溯認列豁免權的選擇性，可能使 公司在採用國際財務報導準則的過渡時期留有操縱的空間。This study aims to examine the determinants that affect UK firms’ choices to retrospectively reinstate acquired goodwill as an intangible asset when it was reported as an equity deduction in the balance sheet. While most firms choose exemption from the retrospective application, some firms opt for costly reinstatement when they first adopt UK FRS 10. Empirical results indicate that companies with high debt contracting costs choose the retrospective application, in line with the “debt contract hypothesis.” However, none of the hypotheses concerning “signaling theory,” “political cost,” and “equity contracting” are supported by the findings. The sampled firms reinstate goodwill with the incentive to reduce the financial distress costs and to increase the possibility of renegotiating new debts in the future. As the requirements of goodwill accounting for UK FRS 10 and IFRS1 are similar, the UK procedures and experiences for goodwill accounting provide good models for Taiwan, where the first adoption of IFRS is expected to take place in 2013. In addition, exemptions from retrospective application could possibly provide companies leeway for manipulation during the transitional period of IFRS adoption. |