Tag archives: goodwill

Goodwill Hunting: The Value, Protections and Role of Intangible Assets in M&A Transactions

We have previously discussed goodwill as a distinct asset in purchase agreements. In this post, we explore the growing value of goodwill and other intangible assets in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and the legal issues parties should consider when seeking to value, protect and exploit these assets.

Intangible assets are often the most significant portion of a target company’s value and goodwill alone can be a very significant portion of a target’s purchase price. For example, in Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods, approximately 70% of the purchase price was allocated to goodwill. Although goodwill and intangible assets each … Continue Reading

Getting the best (asset) deal: tax efficient purchase price allocations

By Troy Ungerman (Toronto) on April 26, 2016 Posted in Corporate finance, Tax

The number one consideration for anyone buying or selling a business is price. But getting the best price is not just about the total cash value. How the purchase price is allocated across the various assets included in the deal has significant implications for the future tax liabilities of both purchasers and sellers. This article discusses some of the major considerations for purchasers and sellers in deciding how to allocate the purchase price in asset purchase agreements, and recent proposed changes to the tax treatment of goodwill which may alter the current allocation preferences of the purchaser and seller.

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