VIASAT INC Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosure
Note 5 — Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets
During fiscal years 2026 and 2025, the Company’s goodwill remained flat.
Goodwill by segment as of March 31, 2026 and 2025 was as follows:
|
|
As of |
|
|
As of |
|
||
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|||||
Communication services |
|
$ |
1,584,603 |
|
|
$ |
1,582,083 |
|
Defense and advanced technologies |
|
|
40,410 |
|
|
|
40,049 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
1,625,013 |
|
|
$ |
1,622,132 |
|
Acquired intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives of to 12 years (which approximates the economic pattern of benefit). Amortization expense related to acquired intangible assets was $260.7 million, $263.9 million and $227.2 million for fiscal years 2026, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Acquired intangible assets and the related accumulated amortization as of March 31, 2026 and 2025 were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
As of March 31, 2026 |
|
|
As of March 31, 2025 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Weighted |
|
|
Total |
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
Net Book |
|
|
Total |
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
Net Book |
|
|||||||
|
|
(In years) |
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Contracts and customer relationships |
|
|
11 |
|
|
$ |
1,432,934 |
|
|
$ |
(413,945 |
) |
|
$ |
1,018,989 |
|
|
$ |
1,432,562 |
|
|
$ |
(280,309 |
) |
|
$ |
1,152,253 |
|
Orbital slots and spectrum assets |
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
1,088,600 |
|
|
|
(263,600 |
) |
|
|
825,000 |
|
|
|
1,088,600 |
|
|
|
(173,600 |
) |
|
|
915,000 |
|
Technology |
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
223,954 |
|
|
|
(142,147 |
) |
|
|
81,807 |
|
|
|
247,921 |
|
|
|
(131,805 |
) |
|
|
116,116 |
|
Trade names |
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
114,570 |
|
|
|
(50,811 |
) |
|
|
63,759 |
|
|
|
116,949 |
|
|
|
(38,453 |
) |
|
|
78,496 |
|
Other |
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
18,995 |
|
|
|
(11,114 |
) |
|
|
7,881 |
|
|
|
18,017 |
|
|
|
(9,105 |
) |
|
|
8,912 |
|
Total other acquired intangible assets |
|
|
11 |
|
|
$ |
2,879,053 |
|
|
$ |
(881,617 |
) |
|
$ |
1,997,436 |
|
|
$ |
2,904,049 |
|
|
$ |
(633,272 |
) |
|
$ |
2,270,777 |
|
The expected amortization expense of amortizable acquired intangible assets may change due to the effects of foreign currency fluctuations as a result of international businesses acquired. Expected amortization expense for acquired intangible assets for each of the following periods is as follows:
|
|
Amortization |
|
|
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|
Expected for fiscal year 2027 |
|
$ |
263,329 |
|
Expected for fiscal year 2028 |
|
|
263,291 |
|
Expected for fiscal year 2029 |
|
|
262,266 |
|
Expected for fiscal year 2030 |
|
|
247,160 |
|
Expected for fiscal year 2031 |
|
|
234,951 |
|
Thereafter |
|
|
726,439 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,997,436 |
|
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | May 29, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2025 | May 27, 2025 | |
| 2024 | May 29, 2024 | |
| 2023 | May 22, 2023 | |
| 2022 | May 31, 2022 | |
| 2021 | May 28, 2021 | |
| 2020 | May 29, 2020 | |
| 2019 | May 29, 2019 | |
| 2018 | May 30, 2018 | |
| 2017 | May 25, 2017 | |
| 2016 | May 26, 2016 | |
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.