STARZ ENTERTAINMENT CORP /CN/STRZ
STARZ ENTERTAINMENT CORP /CN/ Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosure
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill
Changes in the carrying value of goodwill by reporting segment were as follows:
| Motion Picture | Television Production | Media Networks | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (Amounts in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of March 31, 2022 | $ | 393.7 | $ | 401.9 | $ | 1,968.9 | $ | 2,764.5 | |||||||||||||||
Impairment(1) | — | — | (1,475.0) | (1,475.0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of March 31, 2023 | $ | 393.7 | $ | 401.9 | $ | 493.9 | $ | 1,289.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of eOne (see Note 2) | 1.0 | 4.8 | — | 5.8 | |||||||||||||||||||
Impairment(1) | — | — | (493.9) | (493.9) | |||||||||||||||||||
Measurement period adjustments(2) | 3.9 | 5.9 | — | 9.8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance as of March 31, 2024 | $ | 398.6 | $ | 412.6 | $ | — | $ | 811.2 | |||||||||||||||
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(1)See Note 1, Goodwill Impairment Assessments, for further information on the goodwill impairments recorded in fiscal 2024 and 2023 related to the Media Networks segment. As of March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023, accumulated goodwill impairment losses totaled $1.969 billion and $1.475 billion, respectively, related to the Media Networks reporting unit.
(2)Measurement period adjustments for the acquisition of eOne reflect an increase to goodwill of $9.8 million resulting from a net decrease in estimated fair value of the net assets acquired. The decrease in the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired consisted of net decreases to accounts receivable and other assets of $11.4 million and $12.4 million, respectively, partially offset by a net increase to investment in films and television programs of $4.0 million, and net decreases to content related payables of $1.9 million, accrued liabilities of $3.8 million, participations and residuals of $1.9 million, and deferred revenue of $2.4 million.
Intangible Assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets. Finite-lived intangible assets consisted of the following:
| March 31, 2024 | March 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Carrying Amount | Accumulated Amortization | Net Carrying Amount | Gross Carrying Amount | Accumulated Amortization | Net Carrying Amount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Amounts in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finite-lived intangible assets subject to amortization: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Customer relationships(1) | $ | 1,852.0 | $ | 942.9 | $ | 909.1 | $ | 1,852.0 | $ | 807.8 | $ | 1,044.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Trademarks and trade names(2) | 87.6 | 7.1 | 80.5 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 1.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 23.9 | 21.7 | 2.2 | 23.9 | 19.0 | 4.9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 1,963.5 | $ | 971.7 | $ | 991.8 | $ | 1,879.5 | $ | 829.4 | $ | 1,050.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(1)Customer relationships primarily represent Starz affiliation agreements with distributors.
(2)Amounts as of March 31, 2024 include the Starz trade names previously accounted for as indefinite-lived intangible assets, see below and Note 1, Indefinite-Lived Intangibles Other Than Goodwill Impairment Assessment, for further information.
Amortization expense associated with the Company's intangible assets for the years ended March 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was approximately $142.3 million, $140.2 million, and $134.9 million, respectively. Amortization expense remaining relating to intangible assets for each of the years ending March 31, 2025 through 2029 is estimated to be approximately $138.3 million, $127.6 million, $120.6 million, $115.6 million, and $110.1 million, respectively.
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets. As of March 31, 2023, our indefinite-lived intangible assets consisted of trade names representing the estimated fair value of the Starz brand name determined in connection with the acquisition of Starz as of December 8, 2016, amounting to $250.0 million related to the Media Networks reporting unit. See Note 1, Indefinite-Lived Intangibles Other Than Goodwill Impairment Assessment, for further information on the trade name impairment charge of $170.0 million recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 related to the Media Networks segment, and the reassessment of the estimated useful life of the trade names with a remaining carrying value of $80.0 million. Beginning October 1, 2023, the trade names are being accounted for as finite-lived intangible assets and amortized over their estimated useful life. As of March 31, 2024, the Company did not have any indefinite-lived intangible assets.Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | May 30, 2024 | Showing above |
| 2023 | May 25, 2023 | |
| 2022 | May 26, 2022 | |
| 2021 | May 28, 2021 | |
| 2020 | May 27, 2020 | |
| 2019 | May 23, 2019 | |
| 2018 | May 24, 2018 | |
| 2017 | May 25, 2017 | |
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.