Note 10: Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill
The following table summarizes the changes in goodwill by reporting unit:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (in $000s) | ERS | | TES | | APS | | Total |
| Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 498,808 | | | $ | 167,307 | | | $ | 37,896 | | | $ | 704,011 | |
| Acquisitions | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,439 | | | $ | 1,439 | |
| Currency translation adjustment | (644) | | | — | | | — | | | (644) | |
| Balance, December 31, 2024 | 498,164 | | | 167,307 | | | 39,335 | | | 704,806 | |
| | | | | | | |
| Currency translation adjustment | 361 | | | — | | | — | | | 361 | |
| Balance, December 31, 2025 | $ | 498,525 | | | $ | 167,307 | | | $ | 39,335 | | | $ | 705,167 | |
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consisted of the following:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | December 31, 2025 | | December 31, 2024 |
| (in $000s) | Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years) | | Gross Carrying Amount | | Accumulated Amortization | | Gross Carrying Amount | | Accumulated Amortization |
| Definite-lived intangible assets: | | | | | | | | | |
| Trade names | 10.3 | | $ | 179,000 | | | $ | (75,817) | | | $ | 180,780 | | | $ | (67,530) | |
| Customer relationships | 9.3 | | 214,201 | | | (91,659) | | | 214,188 | | | (75,046) | |
| Non-compete agreements and other | 0.0 | | — | | | — | | | 535 | | | (534) | |
| Total | | | $ | 393,201 | | | $ | (167,476) | | | $ | 395,503 | | | $ | (143,110) | |
Amortization expense associated with the intangible assets noted above was $27.0 million, $26.7 million, and $27.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Amortization Expense
As of December 31, 2025, estimated amortization expense for intangible assets for each of the next five years and thereafter is estimated to be as follows:
| | | | | |
| (in $000s) | Amortization |
| 2026 | $ | 26,743 | |
| 2027 | 26,743 | |
| 2028 | 26,743 | |
| 2029 | 26,379 | |
| 2030 | 26,258 | |
| Thereafter | 92,859 | |
| Total estimated future amortization expense | $ | 225,725 | |
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.