GOODWILL
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment are presented in the following table.
Post Consumer BrandsWeetabixFoodserviceRefrigerated RetailTotal
Balance, September 30, 2022
Goodwill (gross)$2,066.8 $781.6 $1,355.3 $803.7 $5,007.4 
Accumulated impairment losses(609.1)— — (48.7)(657.8)
Goodwill (net)$1,457.7 $781.6 $1,355.3 $755.0 $4,349.6 
Goodwill from acquisitions
194.2 — — — 194.2 
Impairment loss— — — (42.2)(42.2)
Currency translation adjustment0.1 72.7 — — 72.8 
Balance, September 30, 2023
Goodwill (gross)$2,261.1 $854.3 $1,355.3 $803.7 $5,274.4 
Accumulated impairment losses(609.1)— — (90.9)(700.0)
Goodwill (net)$1,652.0 $854.3 $1,355.3 $712.8 $4,574.4 
Goodwill from acquisition43.2 — — — 43.2 
Currency translation adjustment— 83.1 — — 83.1 
Balance, September 30, 2024
Goodwill (gross)$2,304.3 $937.4 $1,355.3 $803.7 $5,400.7 
Accumulated impairment losses(609.1)— — (90.9)(700.0)
Goodwill (net)$1,695.2 $937.4 $1,355.3 $712.8 $4,700.7 
During the year ended September 30, 2023, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $42.2 related to its Cheese and Dairy reporting unit within the Refrigerated Retail segment, which was recorded in “Impairment of goodwill” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The goodwill impairment charge was driven primarily by narrowing of the pricing gap between branded and private label competitors, resulting in distribution losses and declining profitability. The Company did not record a goodwill impairment charge during the years ended September 30, 2024 or 2022, as all reporting units subjected to the quantitative test passed during each respective year.
At September 30, 2024, the Cheese and Dairy and Weetabix reporting units’ fair values exceeded their carrying values by approximately 5.3% and 5.2%, respectively. The Cheese and Dairy reporting unit was impacted by the narrowing of the pricing
gap between branded and private label competitors, resulting in distribution losses. The Weetabix reporting unit was impacted by cost inflation as well as U.K. economic pressures negatively impacting consumer spending trends, both of which impacted near-term profitability. The Company expects these impacts to be transitory in nature; however, inherent risk to the reporting units’ cash flows remains. Variances between the actual performance of the reporting units and the assumptions that were used in developing the estimates of fair value could result in impairment charges in future periods. The estimated fair values of all other reporting units exceeded their carrying values by at least 18% at September 30, 2024.
At September 30, 2023, the Weetabix reporting unit fair value exceeded its carrying value by approximately 6.4% and the estimated fair values of all other reporting units exceeded their carrying values by at least 13%.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2024Nov 15, 2024Showing above
2023Nov 17, 2023
2022Nov 17, 2022
2021Nov 19, 2021
2020Nov 20, 2020
2018Nov 16, 2018
2016Nov 18, 2016
2015Nov 25, 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.