EFSC Topics Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

This excerpt taken from the EFSC 10-Q filed May 11, 2009.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. requires that goodwill be tested for impairment annually and more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. Historically the Banking reporting unit has been tested for goodwill impairment at December 31 and the Millennium reporting unit goodwill tested at September 30. The market price of the Company’s common stock has declined from an average closing price of $15.55 during the fourth quarter of 2008 to $11.03 during the first quarter of 2009, a 29% decrease. The closing market value of the Company’s common stock on March 31, 2009 was $9.76. As a result of the Company’s market capitalization being significantly less than total stockholders’ equity at March 31, 2009, an interim goodwill impairment valuation analysis was performed on the Banking reporting unit.

The evaluation identified impairment and as a result, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $45.4 million, which eliminated all goodwill at the Banking reporting unit. The Company also tested the Banking reporting unit core deposit intangible assets for impairment in conformity with FASB 144,

These excerpts taken from the EFSC 10-K filed Mar 16, 2009.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The Company accounts for goodwill and intangible assets according to SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (“SFAS 142”.) Intangible assets other than goodwill, such as core deposit intangibles, that are determined to have finite lives are amortized over their estimated remaining useful lives. The Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis and intangible assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the Company may not be able to recover the respective asset’s carrying amount. Such tests involve the use of estimates and assumptions. Management believes that the assumptions utilized are reasonable. However, the Company may incur impairment charges related to goodwill or intangible assets in the future due to changes in business prospects or other matters that could affect our assumptions.

SFAS 142 requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level. Reporting units are defined as the same level as, or one level below, an operating segment, as defined in SFAS 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information. An operating segment is a component of a business for which separate financial information is available that management regularly evaluates in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s reporting units are Millennium, Trust and the Banking operations of Enterprise. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Trust reporting unit had no goodwill.

Historically, our goodwill impairment tests have been completed as of December 31 each year. Following the annual impairment test for 2006, the Company changed the goodwill impairment test date for the Millennium reporting unit to September 30 of each fiscal year. This change in the testing date was designed to provide sufficient time for independent experts to complete the Millennium reporting unit testing prior to year end reporting. The goodwill impairment test date for the Banking reporting unit did not change.

Under SFAS 142, businesses must identify potential impairments by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. Goodwill impairment does not occur as long as the fair value of the unit is greater than its carrying value. The second step of the impairment test is only required if a goodwill impairment is identified in step one. The second step of the test compares the implied fair market value of goodwill to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair market value, an impairment loss is recognized. That loss is equal to the carrying amount of goodwill that is in excess of its implied fair market value.

SFAS 144 also requires long-lived assets, such as purchased intangibles subject to amortization, to be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.

There are three general approaches commonly used in business valuation: income approach, asset-based approach, and market approach. Within each of these approaches, there are various techniques for determining the value of a business using the definition of value appropriate for the appraisal assignment. Professional judgment is required to determine which valuation methods are the most appropriate. The valuation may utilize one or more of the approaches. Generally, the income approaches determine value by calculating the net present value of the benefit stream generated by the business (discounted cash flow); the asset-based approaches determine value by adding the sum of the parts of the business (net asset value); and the market approaches determine value by comparing the subject company to other companies in the same industry, of the same size, and/or within the same region.

Millennium reporting unit

An independent third party performed the valuation of the Millennium reporting unit. Step one of the impairment valuation utilized a combination of the income approach and the market approach. The income and market approaches were weighted at 33% and 67%, respectively. The weights reflect the relative importance of the methods used and serve as a means of simulating the thinking of hypothetical investors. Significant assumptions and estimates used to determine the step one impairment value included expected cash flows and annual growth rates, anticipated future earnings, operating margins and other indicators of value derived from market transactions of similar companies.

Step two of the impairment valuation contemplated a hypothetical acquisition of the assets and liabilities of Millennium. The intangible assets identified were trade name and customer lists. Significant assumptions and estimates used to determine the step two allocation include an expected discount rate, existing customer list and projected revenue from those customers.

In accordance with SFAS 142 and SFAS 144, we evaluated Millennium’s goodwill and intangible assets for impairment as of September 30, 2008. In connection with these tests, we determined that margin pressures reducing Millennium revenues continued to negatively affect operating performance, thereby reducing the fair value of our investment in Millennium. As a result, the Company recorded a $5.9 million, pre-tax goodwill impairment charge as of September 30, 2008. In the fourth quarter of 2008, due to continued pressures in the sales margin and resulting decreased earnings of Millennium, we identified and recorded an additional pre-tax goodwill impairment of $2.8 million and $500,000 of intangible asset impairment. Millennium’s goodwill and intangible assets were $3.1 million and $1.4 million, respectively, at December 31, 2008. It is possible that additional impairment charges could occur in 2009.

Banking reporting unit

An independent third party performed the valuation of the Banking reporting unit. Step one of the impairment valuation utilized a combination of the income approach and the market approach. The income and market approaches were weighted at 67% and 33%, respectively. The weights reflect the relative importance of the methods used and serve as a means of simulating the thinking of hypothetical investors. Significant assumptions and estimates used to determine the step one impairment value included expected cash flows and annual growth rates, anticipated future earnings, operating margins and other indicators of value derived from market transactions of similar companies.

The 2008 annual impairment evaluation of the goodwill and intangible balances did not identify any impairment for the Banking reporting unit. At December 31, 2008, the Company’s common shareholders’ equity was $186.7 million. At March 2, 2009, the Company’s market capitalization was $116.0 million. A goodwill impairment test may be performed on the Banking reporting unit as of March 31, 2009. If current market conditions persist, it is possible that goodwill impairment could occur in the Banking reporting unit in 2009.

There was no goodwill or intangible impairment recorded in 2007 or 2006 for either the Millennium or Banking reporting units.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The Company accounts for goodwill and intangible assets according to SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (“SFAS 142”.) Intangible assets other than goodwill, such as core deposit intangibles, that are determined to have finite lives are amortized over their estimated remaining useful lives. The Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis and intangible assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the Company may not be able to recover the respective asset’s carrying amount. Such tests involve the use of estimates and assumptions. Management believes that the assumptions utilized are reasonable. However, the Company may incur impairment charges related to goodwill or intangible assets in the future due to changes in business prospects or other matters that could affect our assumptions.

SFAS 142 requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level. Reporting units are defined as the same level as, or one level below, an operating segment, as defined in SFAS 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information. An operating segment is a component of a business for which separate financial information is available that management regularly evaluates in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s reporting units are Millennium, Trust and the Banking operations of Enterprise. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Trust reporting unit had no goodwill.

Historically, our goodwill impairment tests have been completed as of December 31 each year. Following the annual impairment test for 2006, the Company changed the goodwill impairment test date for the Millennium reporting unit to September 30 of each fiscal year. This change in the testing date was designed to provide sufficient time for independent experts to complete the Millennium reporting unit testing prior to year end reporting. The goodwill impairment test date for the Banking reporting unit did not change.

Under SFAS 142, businesses must identify potential impairments by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. Goodwill impairment does not occur as long as the fair value of the unit is greater than its carrying value. The second step of the impairment test is only required if a goodwill impairment is identified in step one. The second step of the test compares the implied fair market value of goodwill to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair market value, an impairment loss is recognized. That loss is equal to the carrying amount of goodwill that is in excess of its implied fair market value.

SFAS 144 also requires long-lived assets, such as purchased intangibles subject to amortization, to be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.

There are three general approaches commonly used in business valuation: income approach, asset-based approach, and market approach. Within each of these approaches, there are various techniques for determining the value of a business using the definition of value appropriate for the appraisal assignment. Professional judgment is required to determine which valuation methods are the most appropriate. The valuation may utilize one or more of the approaches. Generally, the income approaches determine value by calculating the net present value of the benefit stream generated by the business (discounted cash flow); the asset-based approaches determine value by adding the sum of the parts of the business (net asset value); and the market approaches determine value by comparing the subject company to other companies in the same industry, of the same size, and/or within the same region.

Millennium reporting unit

An independent third party performed the valuation of the Millennium reporting unit. Step one of the impairment valuation utilized a combination of the income approach and the market approach. The income and market approaches were weighted at 33% and 67%, respectively. The weights reflect the relative importance of the methods used and serve as a means of simulating the thinking of hypothetical investors. Significant assumptions and estimates used to determine the step one impairment value included expected cash flows and annual growth rates, anticipated future earnings, operating margins and other indicators of value derived from market transactions of similar companies.

Step two of the impairment valuation contemplated a hypothetical acquisition of the assets and liabilities of Millennium. The intangible assets identified were trade name and customer lists. Significant assumptions and estimates used to determine the step two allocation include an expected discount rate, existing customer list and projected revenue from those customers.

In accordance with SFAS 142 and SFAS 144, we evaluated Millennium’s goodwill and intangible assets for impairment as of September 30, 2008. In connection with these tests, we determined that margin pressures reducing Millennium revenues continued to negatively affect operating performance, thereby reducing the fair value of our investment in Millennium. As a result, the Company recorded a $5.9 million, pre-tax goodwill impairment charge as of September 30, 2008. In the fourth quarter of 2008, due to continued pressures in the sales margin and resulting decreased earnings of Millennium, we identified and recorded an additional pre-tax goodwill impairment of $2.8 million and $500,000 of intangible asset impairment. Millennium’s goodwill and intangible assets were $3.1 million and $1.4 million, respectively, at December 31, 2008. It is possible that additional impairment charges could occur in 2009.

Banking reporting unit

An independent third party performed the valuation of the Banking reporting unit. Step one of the impairment valuation utilized a combination of the income approach and the market approach. The income and market approaches were weighted at 67% and 33%, respectively. The weights reflect the relative importance of the methods used and serve as a means of simulating the thinking of hypothetical investors. Significant assumptions and estimates used to determine the step one impairment value included expected cash flows and annual growth rates, anticipated future earnings, operating margins and other indicators of value derived from market transactions of similar companies.

The 2008 annual impairment evaluation of the goodwill and intangible balances did not identify any impairment for the Banking reporting unit. At December 31, 2008, the Company’s common shareholders’ equity was $186.7 million. At March 2, 2009, the Company’s market capitalization was $116.0 million. A goodwill impairment test may be performed on the Banking reporting unit as of March 31, 2009. If current market conditions persist, it is possible that goodwill impairment could occur in the Banking reporting unit in 2009.

There was no goodwill or intangible impairment recorded in 2007 or 2006 for either the Millennium or Banking reporting units.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (“SFAS 142”.) Intangible assets other than goodwill, such as core deposit intangibles, that are determined to have finite lives are amortized over their estimated remaining useful lives. The Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis and intangible assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the Company may not be able to recover the respective asset’s carrying amount. Such tests involve the use of estimates and assumptions. Management believes that the assumptions utilized are reasonable. However, the Company may incur impairment charges related to goodwill or intangible assets in the future due to changes in business prospects or other matters that could affect our assumptions.

SFAS 142 requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level. Reporting units are defined as the same level as, or one level below, an operating segment, as defined in SFAS 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information. An operating segment is a component of a business for which separate financial information is available that management regularly evaluates in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s reporting units are Millennium, Trust and the Banking operations of Enterprise. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Trust reporting unit had no goodwill.

Historically, our goodwill impairment tests have been completed as of December 31 each year. Following the annual impairment test for 2006, the Company changed the goodwill impairment test date for the Millennium reporting unit to September 30 of each fiscal year. This change in the testing date was designed to provide sufficient time for independent experts to complete the Millennium reporting unit testing prior to year end reporting. The goodwill impairment test date for the Banking reporting unit did not change.

Under SFAS 142, businesses must identify potential impairments by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. Goodwill impairment does not occur as long as the fair value of the unit is greater than its carrying value. The second step of the impairment test is only required if a goodwill impairment is identified in step one. The second step of the test compares the implied fair market value of goodwill to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair market value, an impairment loss is recognized. That loss is equal to the carrying amount of goodwill that is in excess of its implied fair market value.

SFAS 144 also requires long-lived assets, such as purchased intangibles subject to amortization, to be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.

There are three general approaches commonly used in business valuation: income approach, asset-based approach, and market approach. Within each of these approaches, there are various techniques for determining the value of a business using the definition of value appropriate for the appraisal assignment. Professional judgment is required to determine which valuation methods are the most appropriate. The valuation may utilize one or more of the approaches. Generally, the income approaches determine value by calculating the net present value of the benefit stream generated by the business (discounted cash flow); the asset-based approaches determine value by adding the sum of the parts of the business (net asset value); and the market approaches determine value by comparing the subject company to other companies in the same industry, of the same size, and/or within the same region.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (“SFAS 142”.) Intangible assets other than goodwill, such as core deposit intangibles, that are determined to have finite lives are amortized over their estimated remaining useful lives. The Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis and intangible assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the Company may not be able to recover the respective asset’s carrying amount. Such tests involve the use of estimates and assumptions. Management believes that the assumptions utilized are reasonable. However, the Company may incur impairment charges related to goodwill or intangible assets in the future due to changes in business prospects or other matters that could affect our assumptions.

SFAS 142 requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level. Reporting units are defined as the same level as, or one level below, an operating segment, as defined in SFAS 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information. An operating segment is a component of a business for which separate financial information is available that management regularly evaluates in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s reporting units are Millennium, Trust and the Banking operations of Enterprise. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Trust reporting unit had no goodwill.

Historically, our goodwill impairment tests have been completed as of December 31 each year. Following the annual impairment test for 2006, the Company changed the goodwill impairment test date for the Millennium reporting unit to September 30 of each fiscal year. This change in the testing date was designed to provide sufficient time for independent experts to complete the Millennium reporting unit testing prior to year end reporting. The goodwill impairment test date for the Banking reporting unit did not change.

Under SFAS 142, businesses must identify potential impairments by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. Goodwill impairment does not occur as long as the fair value of the unit is greater than its carrying value. The second step of the impairment test is only required if a goodwill impairment is identified in step one. The second step of the test compares the implied fair market value of goodwill to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair market value, an impairment loss is recognized. That loss is equal to the carrying amount of goodwill that is in excess of its implied fair market value.

SFAS 144 also requires long-lived assets, such as purchased intangibles subject to amortization, to be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.

There are three general approaches commonly used in business valuation: income approach, asset-based approach, and market approach. Within each of these approaches, there are various techniques for determining the value of a business using the definition of value appropriate for the appraisal assignment. Professional judgment is required to determine which valuation methods are the most appropriate. The valuation may utilize one or more of the approaches. Generally, the income approaches determine value by calculating the net present value of the benefit stream generated by the business (discounted cash flow); the asset-based approaches determine value by adding the sum of the parts of the business (net asset value); and the market approaches determine value by comparing the subject company to other companies in the same industry, of the same size, and/or within the same region.

Goodwill and Other Intangible

Assets

The Company accounts for goodwill

and intangible assets according to SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

(“SFAS 142”.) Intangible assets other than goodwill, such as core deposit

intangibles, that are determined to have finite lives are amortized over their

SFAS 142 requires that goodwill be