AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER CO INCAEP

AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER CO INC Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosure

10-KFiled Feb 25, 20211 min read
Goodwill (Applies to AEP)When AEP acquires a business, as defined by the accounting guidance for “Business Combinations,” management recognizes all acquired assets and liabilities at their fair value.  To the extent that consideration exceeds the net fair value of the identified assets and liabilities, goodwill is recognized on the balance sheets.  Goodwill is not amortized.  Management tests acquired goodwill at the reporting unit level for impairment at least annually at its estimated fair value. Fair value is the amount at which an asset or liability could be bought or sold in a current transaction between willing parties other than in a forced or liquidation sale.  Quoted market prices in active markets are the best evidence of fair value and are used as the basis for the measurement, if available.  In the absence of quoted prices for identical or similar assets in active markets, management estimates fair value using various internal and external valuation methods.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2020Feb 25, 2021Showing above
2019Feb 20, 2020
2018Feb 21, 2019
2017Feb 23, 2018
2016Feb 28, 2017
2015Feb 24, 2016

About Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosures

Goodwill and intangible asset disclosures reveal the premium paid in acquisitions and how management assesses whether that premium retains its value. Since goodwill is no longer amortized under US GAAP, the annual impairment test is the only mechanism that adjusts carrying values downward — making the assumptions behind that test critically important for investors.

Key signals: a history of goodwill impairments suggests management consistently overpays for acquisitions. Watch the gap between reporting unit fair value and carrying amount — when fair value exceeds carrying amount by less than 10-20%, a small decline in business performance could trigger a write-down. For finite-lived intangibles, examine useful life assumptions across customer relationships, technology, and trade names; aggressive estimates inflate near-term earnings. Compare total intangibles-to-total-assets ratios against peers to assess acquisition dependency. Rising goodwill as a percentage of equity can signal balance sheet fragility.

Other Available Disclosures

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