Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair values of the identifiable assets acquired less the liabilities assumed in the acquisition of a business. Goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually or whenever events or circumstances indicate that a carrying amount may not be recoverable. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level by comparing the reporting unit’s carrying amount to the fair value of the reporting unit. Fair values are estimated using an income and discounted cash flow approach. We perform our annual impairment test of goodwill in the fourth quarter of each year. We consider qualitative indicators of the fair value of a reporting unit when it is unlikely that a reporting unit has impaired goodwill. During the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, we did not record any impairment charges related to goodwill.

Intangible assets consist of purchased in-process research and development (“IPR&D”), developed technology, supplier network, patents, customer relationships, re-acquired rights, and non-compete agreements. Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized over the period of estimated benefit using the straight-line method and estimated useful lives ranging from one to twenty-one years. Intangible assets with finite useful lives are tested whenever events or circumstances indicate that a carrying amount of an asset (asset group) may not be recoverable. If an impairment is indicated, we measure the amount of the impairment loss as the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the asset. Fair value is generally determined using a discounted future cash flow analysis. There were no impairments of finite-lived intangible assets during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020.

IPR&D has an indefinite life and is not amortized until completion of the project at which time the IPR&D becomes an amortizable asset. Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are tested for impairment annually or whenever events or circumstances indicate that a carrying amount of an asset (asset group) may not be recoverable. If the related project is not completed in a timely manner, we may have an impairment related to the IPR&D, calculated as the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its fair value. There were no impairments of IPR&D during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2022Feb 21, 2023Showing above
2021Feb 17, 2022
2020Feb 17, 2021
2019Feb 20, 2020
2018Feb 21, 2019
2017Feb 22, 2018
2016Mar 16, 2017
2015Feb 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.