Goodwill
The carrying amount of goodwill attributable to our Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises reporting units and the changes in such balances during the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands):
|
| | | | | | | | | |
| Royal
Caribbean
International | Celebrity Cruises | Total |
Balance at December 31, 2015 | $ | 286,764 |
| $ | — |
| $ | 286,764 |
|
Goodwill attributable to purchase of Ocean Adventures(1) | — |
| 1,600 |
| 1,600 |
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment | (10 | ) | 32 |
| 22 |
|
Balance at December 31, 2016 | 286,754 |
| 1,632 |
| 288,386 |
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment | 126 |
| — |
| 126 |
|
Balance at December 31, 2017 | $ | 286,880 |
| $ | 1,632 |
| $ | 288,512 |
|
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(1) | In 2016, we purchased Ocean Adventures. The acquisition was accounted for as a business purchase combination using the purchase method of accounting which requires the use of fair value measurements. The business combination, including purchase transaction and assets acquired, was immaterial to our consolidated financial statements. |
During the fourth quarter of 2017, we performed a qualitative assessment of whether it was more-likely-than-not that our Royal Caribbean International reporting unit's fair value was less than its carrying amount before applying the two-step goodwill impairment test. The qualitative analysis included assessing the impact of certain factors such as general economic conditions, limitations on accessing capital, changes in forecasted operating results, changes in fuel prices and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. Based on our qualitative assessment, we concluded that it was more-likely-than-not that the estimated fair value of the Royal Caribbean International reporting unit exceeded its carrying value and thus, we did not proceed to the two-step goodwill impairment test. No indicators of impairment exist primarily because the reporting unit's fair value has consistently exceeded its carrying value by a significant margin and forecasts of operating results generated by the reporting unit appear sufficient to support its carrying value. As a result of our assessment, we did not record an impairment of goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2017.
For the year ended December 31, 2016, we did not record an impairment of goodwill for our reporting units.
During the fourth quarter of 2015, we performed our annual impairment review of goodwill for the Royal Caribbean International reporting unit. We elected to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceeded directly to step one of the two-step goodwill impairment test to corroborate the results of prior years' qualitative assessments. As a result of the test, we determined the fair value of the Royal Caribbean International reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by approximately 90% resulting in no impairment to the Royal Caribbean International goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2015.
In 2015, for our Pullmantur reporting unit, we reviewed the two-step goodwill impairment test based on our cash flow projections. As a result of this analysis, we determined that the carrying value of the Pullmantur reporting unit exceeded its fair value. Accordingly, upon the completion of the two-step impairment test, we recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $123.8 million. The charge reflected the full carrying amount of the goodwill leaving Pullmantur with no goodwill on its books. This impairment charge was recognized in earnings during the third quarter of 2015 and is reported within Impairment of Pullmantur related assets within our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).
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.