BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS INC. Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosure
| Full service center-based child care | Back-up care | Educational advisory services | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at January 1, 2024 | $ | 1,539,264 | $ | 207,298 | $ | 39,843 | $ | 1,786,405 | |||||||||||||||
| Change in reportable segments | — | 2,167 | (2,167) | — | |||||||||||||||||||
| Additions from acquisitions | 16,983 | — | — | 16,983 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Adjustments to prior year acquisitions | 110 | — | — | 110 | |||||||||||||||||||
| (4,179) | — | — | (4,179) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Effect of foreign currency translation | (36,259) | (377) | — | (36,636) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2024 | 1,515,919 | 209,088 | 37,676 | 1,762,683 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Additions from acquisitions | 4,857 | — | — | 4,857 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Adjustments to prior year acquisitions | 531 | — | — | 531 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Effect of foreign currency translation | 54,324 | 1,780 | — | 56,104 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2025 | $ | 1,575,631 | $ | 210,868 | $ | 37,676 | $ | 1,824,175 | |||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2025: | Cost | Accumulated amortization | Net carrying amount | |||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Definite-lived intangible assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer relationships | $ | 386,482 | $ | (379,457) | $ | 7,025 | ||||||||||||||
| Trade names | 16,148 | (10,693) | 5,455 | |||||||||||||||||
| 402,630 | (390,150) | 12,480 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Indefinite-lived intangible assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Trade names | 180,972 | — | 180,972 | |||||||||||||||||
| $ | 583,602 | $ | (390,150) | $ | 193,452 | |||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2024: | Cost | Accumulated amortization | Net carrying amount | |||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Definite-lived intangible assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer relationships | $ | 394,098 | $ | (383,127) | $ | 10,971 | ||||||||||||||
| Trade names | 15,226 | (9,111) | 6,115 | |||||||||||||||||
| 409,324 | (392,238) | 17,086 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Indefinite-lived intangible assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Trade names | 180,489 | — | 180,489 | |||||||||||||||||
| $ | 589,813 | $ | (392,238) | $ | 197,575 | |||||||||||||||
| Estimated amortization expense | |||||
| (In thousands) | |||||
| 2026 | $ | 4,383 | |||
| 2027 | 3,156 | ||||
| 2028 | 1,776 | ||||
| 2029 | 720 | ||||
| 2030 | 699 | ||||
| Thereafter | 1,746 | ||||
| $ | 12,480 | ||||
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 26, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 27, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Feb 27, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Feb 28, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Feb 25, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Mar 1, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Feb 27, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Feb 27, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Feb 28, 2018 | |
| 2016 | Mar 1, 2017 | |
| 2015 | Feb 29, 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.