SES AI Corp Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosure
Goodwill, long-lived assets, and other intangible assets
Goodwill and other intangible assets that arise from acquisitions are recorded in accordance with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations and ASC Topic 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other. In accordance with this guidance, specifically identified intangible assets must be recorded as a separate asset from goodwill if either of the following two criteria is met: (1) the intangible asset acquired arises from contractual or other legal rights; or (2) the intangible asset is separable. Intangibles are typically trade names and intellectual property. Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in a business combination.
The Company recorded goodwill for the first time in connection with its acquisition of UZ Energy in September 2025. As the Company determined there to be a single reporting unit subsequent to the acquisition, management identified the historical losses of the legacy business to be an indicator of a triggering event, in accordance with ASC Topic 350. The Company performed a quantitative test for impairment, noting that the fair value of the Company using the market cap under the market approach exceeded its book value and concluded there was no impairment of goodwill.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 4, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2023 | Feb 27, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Mar 16, 2023 | |
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.