SFAS 142 was issued in June 2001 and fundamentally changed the accounting for
goodwill[3]. The new standard eliminated the long-accepted practice of systematic
amortization of goodwill acquired in business combinations; instead, it required
companies to review their goodwill for impairment at regular intervals and to
recognize impairment losses if goodwill is determined to be impaired. Upon issuing the
new rule for goodwill, the FASB anticipates that it will enhance investors’ ability
to predict future operating cash flows or profitability.