What does goodwill represent in accounting?

Goodwill in accounting represents the excess of the purchase price paid for an acquired company over the fair value of its identifiable net assets at the acquisition date. This typically occurs during business combinations where one company acquires another for a price higher than the value of its tangible and intangible assets, minus its liabilities.

Essentially, goodwill reflects the intangible assets not separately identifiable that contribute to the value of the acquired company, such as reputation, customer relationships, skilled workforce, and other synergies expected to result from the combination. It is crucial to recognize that goodwill is computed at the point of acquisition based on the fair value of the acquired entities' net assets.

In contrast, the other options do not correctly define goodwill. The expenses related to brand development are accounted for differently, typically as marketing or operational expenses in the income statement rather than as an asset. The excess of liabilities over total assets signifies a negative equity situation, which does not represent goodwill, but rather indicates a solvency issue. Total equity attributable to shareholders focuses on the ownership interest in the company at a specific point in time, which again does not align with the definition of goodwill as it pertains specifically to business acquisitions.