>>4267821
Goodwill is an accounting concept that occurs with a merger. Say you buy a company; you'll pay about market value. In an acquisition you transfer their assets and liabilities onto your books, but you have to account for the difference between the book value of the company (on its books) and the market value. (what you paid.) (Mostly the difference comes from the asset side of the balance sheet.) That difference is entered as an asset called "Goodwill". You did not overpay; you recognize the undervaluation of book value vs. the market, with this new entry.
It's not touchy-feely, it's very well defined and standard.
Interestingly it's the only time that difference is recognized. A company can exist for 100 years, and if it's never acquired, its book value will bear no relation to its market value.