Note 12 — Goodwill
During the fourth quarter of 2014, we determined that sufficient indicators of potential impairment existed to require an interim goodwill impairment analysis as of December 31, 2014. These indicators included significant declines in the market price of our common stock during the fourth quarter of 2014, including declines in reaction to the New York Department of Financial Services (NY DFS) settlement announced in December 2014, which included the resignation of our former Executive Chairman, and the California Department of Business Oversight (CA DBO) settlement announced in January 2015 that related to events in 2014. This reassessment resulted in the recognition of an impairment charge of $420.2 million in 2014, representing the entire balance of goodwill in our Servicing and Lending segments of $371.1 million and $49.1 million, respectively.
In performing the two-step quantitative assessment, we first compared the fair value of each reporting unit with its net carrying value, including goodwill. Because the fair value of the reporting units exceeded their carrying value, it was necessary to perform the second step of the impairment test to measure the amount of impairment loss. In the second step, we compared the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying value. Because the carrying amount of the goodwill exceeded the implied fair value for the reporting units, we recognized an impairment loss in an amount equal to that excess (up to the carrying value of goodwill). We determined the fair value of the reporting units based a combination of the income approach (discounted cash flow valuation methodology) and the market approach, and with the assistance of a third-party valuation firm.
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.