8.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill during the fiscal years 2025 and 2024 are as follows (in thousands):

 

Sally

 

 

BSG

 

 

Total

 

Balance at September 30, 2023

 

$

75,304

 

 

$

457,777

 

 

 

533,081

 

   Acquisitions (a)

 

 

 

 

 

282

 

 

 

282

 

   Adjustments (b)

 

 

 

 

 

(381

)

 

 

(381

)

   Foreign currency translation

 

 

5,120

 

 

 

164

 

 

 

5,284

 

Balance at September 30, 2024

 

$

80,424

 

 

$

457,842

 

 

$

538,266

 

   Acquisitions (a)

 

 

959

 

 

 

 

 

 

959

 

   Adjustments (b)

 

 

 

 

 

371

 

 

 

371

 

   Divestiture of business

 

 

(132

)

 

 

 

 

 

(132

)

   Foreign currency translation

 

 

2,222

 

 

 

(1,012

)

 

 

1,210

 

Balance at September 30, 2025

 

$

83,473

 

 

$

457,201

 

 

$

540,674

 

(a)
See Note 13, Acquisitions, for additional information regarding goodwill acquired.
(b)
Measurement period adjustment of the prior year acquisition.

The following table reflects our other intangible assets, excluding goodwill, on our consolidated balance sheets. Once an intangible asset becomes fully amortized, the original cost and accumulated amortization is removed in the subsequent period. As of September 30, 2025 and 2024, we had the following (in thousands):

 

 

September 30, 2025

 

 

September 30, 2024

 

 

Gross Carrying Amount

 

 

Accumulated Amortization

 

 

Net

 

 

Gross Carrying Amount

 

 

Accumulated Amortization

 

 

Net

 

Definite-lived Intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution rights (a)

 

$

16,620

 

 

$

(4,901

)

 

$

11,719

 

 

$

22,508

 

 

$

(9,273

)

 

$

13,235

 

Customer relationships

 

 

5,916

 

 

 

(5,711

)

 

 

205

 

 

 

22,024

 

 

 

(20,820

)

 

 

1,204

 

Other intangible assets

 

 

4,724

 

 

 

(4,074

)

 

 

650

 

 

 

4,567

 

 

 

(3,668

)

 

 

899

 

Total definite-lived intangible assets

 

 

27,260

 

 

 

(14,686

)

 

 

12,574

 

 

 

49,099

 

 

 

(33,761

)

 

 

15,338

 

Indefinite-lived Intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade names (b)

 

 

40,444

 

 

 

 

 

 

40,444

 

 

 

44,622

 

 

 

 

 

 

44,622

 

Total intangible assets, excluding
   goodwill, net

 

$

67,704

 

 

$

(14,686

)

 

$

53,018

 

 

$

93,721

 

 

$

(33,761

)

 

$

59,960

 

(a)
See Note 13, Acquisitions, for additional information regarding distribution rights recorded during the fiscal year.
(b)
During fiscal year 2025, we performed a quantitative analysis and determined certain trade names within the Sally reporting segment was fully impaired. As a result, we recognized an impairment loss of $4.5 million within selling, general, and administrative expenses.

Our definite-lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the period that we expected an economic benefit, typically over periods of three to ten years. For fiscal years 2025, 2024 and 2023, amortization expense related to intangible assets totaled $3.5 million, $3.2 million, and $3.4 million, respectively and are included within selling, general and administrative expenses on our consolidated statements of earnings.

As of September 30, 2025, the expected future amortization expense related to definite-lived intangible assets is as follows (in thousands):

Fiscal Year:

 

 

 

2026

 

$

2,607

 

2027

 

 

1,996

 

2028

 

 

1,433

 

2029

 

 

1,224

 

2030

 

 

1,179

 

Thereafter

 

 

4,135

 

 

 

$

12,574

 

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Nov 13, 2025Showing above
2024Nov 14, 2024
2023Nov 16, 2023
2022Nov 17, 2022
2021Nov 22, 2021
2020Nov 24, 2020
2019Nov 25, 2019
2018Nov 14, 2018
2017Nov 15, 2017
2016Nov 15, 2016
2015Nov 12, 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.