. Goodwill

The carrying value and changes in the carrying value of goodwill attributable to each reportable segment were as follows:

 

Goodwill (in thousands)

 

GovDeals

 

 

CAG

 

 

Machinio

 

 

Total

 

Balance at September 30, 2021

 

$

23,731

 

 

$

21,583

 

 

$

14,558

 

 

$

59,872

 

Addition: Bid4Assets acquisition

 

 

30,083

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,083

 

Translation adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

(1,045

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,045

)

Balance at September 30, 2022

 

$

53,814

 

 

$

20,538

 

 

$

14,558

 

 

$

88,910

 

Translation adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

478

 

 

 

 

 

 

478

 

Balance at September 30, 2023

 

$

53,814

 

 

$

21,016

 

 

$

14,558

 

 

$

89,388

 

Addition: Sierra acquisition

 

$

7,869

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

7,869

 

Translation adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

535

 

 

 

 

 

 

535

 

Balance at September 30, 2024

 

$

61,683

 

 

$

21,551

 

 

$

14,558

 

 

$

97,792

 

 

The increase in the goodwill balance of approximately $7.9 million at the GovDeals reportable segment and reporting unit during the year ended September 30, 2024, is due to the Sierra acquisition; see Note 4 - Sierra Acquisition for further information.

The increase in the goodwill balance of approximately $30.1 million at the GovDeals reportable segment and reporting unit during the year ended September 30, 2022, is due to the Bid4Assets acquisition; see Note 3 - Bid4Assets Acquisition for further information.

Accumulated goodwill impairment losses as of September 30, 2024 and 2023 were $168.6 million.

Impairment Analysis

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the beginning of the fourth quarter and during interim periods whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. As of July 1, 2024, the Company performed its annual impairment test qualitatively and concluded that it was more likely than not that the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded their carrying amounts. The Company did not record impairment charges on goodwill during the years ended September 30, 2024, 2023, and 2022.

The Company did not identify any indicators of impairment that required an interim goodwill impairment test during the three months ended September 30, 2024.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2024Dec 12, 2024Showing above
2023Dec 7, 2023
2022Dec 8, 2022
2021Dec 9, 2021
2019Dec 10, 2019
2018Dec 6, 2018
2017Dec 7, 2017
2016Nov 21, 2016
2015Nov 23, 2015

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.