---
_id: '67388'
abstract:
- lang: eng
text: 'The impairment frequency and quantity of acquired intangible assets remain
a focal point in the debate about the proper measurement of acquired intangible
assets. Using hand-collected data on acquired intangible assets net amounts and
their impairments, we exploit the different determinants of finite and indefinite
intangible assets and goodwill to explore how impairment practices differ across
categories. While indefinite intangible asset and goodwill impairments are largely
explained by reporting quality indicators, we find only weak evidence between
reporting quality and finite intangible asset impairments. In contrast, finite
intangible asset impairments are explained by deteriorating business characteristics.
Internal monitoring mechanisms strongly moderate the likelihood of timely impairments
for indefinite intangibles and goodwill for firms that face impairment pressure,
indicating the role of corporate governance in enhancing reporting quality. Our
results are relevant for policymakers as they consider proposals to subsume intangible
assets into goodwill as well as modifying impairment test procedures. '
author:
- first_name: Jan
full_name: Riepe, Jan
id: '86351'
last_name: Riepe
orcid: 0000-0002-1413-4953
- first_name: Gopal
full_name: Krishnan, Gopal
last_name: Krishnan
- first_name: Alexander
full_name: Liss, Alexander
last_name: Liss
- first_name: Ulf
full_name: Mohrmann, Ulf
last_name: Mohrmann
citation:
ama: Riepe J, Krishnan G, Liss A, Mohrmann U. Discretionary Impairments of Finite
and Indefinite Intangible Assets. Accounting Horizon . Published online
2026. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4660302
apa: Riepe, J., Krishnan, G., Liss, A., & Mohrmann, U. (2026). Discretionary
Impairments of Finite and Indefinite Intangible Assets. Accounting Horizon
. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4660302
bibtex: '@article{Riepe_Krishnan_Liss_Mohrmann_2026, title={Discretionary Impairments
of Finite and Indefinite Intangible Assets}, DOI={https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4660302},
journal={Accounting Horizon }, author={Riepe, Jan and Krishnan, Gopal and Liss,
Alexander and Mohrmann, Ulf}, year={2026} }'
chicago: Riepe, Jan, Gopal Krishnan, Alexander Liss, and Ulf Mohrmann. “Discretionary
Impairments of Finite and Indefinite Intangible Assets.” Accounting Horizon
, 2026. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4660302.
ieee: 'J. Riepe, G. Krishnan, A. Liss, and U. Mohrmann, “Discretionary Impairments
of Finite and Indefinite Intangible Assets,” Accounting Horizon , 2026,
doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4660302.'
mla: Riepe, Jan, et al. “Discretionary Impairments of Finite and Indefinite Intangible
Assets.” Accounting Horizon , 2026, doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4660302.
short: J. Riepe, G. Krishnan, A. Liss, U. Mohrmann, Accounting Horizon (2026).
date_created: 2026-10-05T08:51:37Z
date_updated: 2026-10-21T08:54:01Z
department:
- _id: '186'
- _id: '944'
doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4660302
keyword:
- goodwill
- impairment
- financial reporting
- intangible assets
- post-acquisition accounting
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- url: https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4660302
publication: 'Accounting Horizon '
status: public
title: Discretionary Impairments of Finite and Indefinite Intangible Assets
type: journal_article
user_id: '88603'
year: '2026'
...