Goodwill

Goodwill consists of the excess of consideration transferred over the fair value of net assets acquired in business combinations. The following table summarizes the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the periods ended July 31, 2017 and January 31, 2017:



	July 31, 2017			January 31, 2017
Goodwill, beginning of the period (as of February 1, 2017 and February 1, 2016, respectively)	$	1,710.3		$	1,684.2
Less: accumulated impairment losses, beginning of the period (as of February 1, 2017 and February 1, 2016, respectively)	(149.2		)	(149.2		)
Net goodwill, beginning of the period (as of February 1, 2017 and February 1, 2016, respectively)	1,561.1			1,535.0
Additions arising from acquisitions during the period	—			62.8
Effect of foreign currency translation, purchase accounting adjustments, and other	27.5			(36.7		)
Goodwill, end of the period	$	1,588.6		$	1,561.1

Autodesk operates as a single operating segment and single reporting unit. As such, when Autodesk tests goodwill for impairment annually in its fourth fiscal quarter, it is performed on the Company's single reporting unit. Autodesk performs impairment testing more often if circumstances indicate a potential impairment may exist, or if events have affected the composition of reporting units.

When goodwill is assessed for impairment, Autodesk has the option to perform an assessment of qualitative factors of impairment (“optional assessment”) prior to necessitating a quantitative impairment test. Should the optional assessment be used for any given fiscal year, qualitative factors to consider include cost factors; financial performance; legal, regulatory, contractual, political, business, or other factors; entity specific factors; industry and market considerations, macroeconomic conditions, and other relevant events and factors affecting the reporting unit. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying value, then performing the quantitative impairment test is unnecessary.

The quantitative impairment test is necessary when either Autodesk does not use the optional assessment or, as a result of the optional assessment, it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying value.

As described in Note 2, "Recently Issued Accounting Standards," Autodesk early adopted ASU 2017-04, which simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill to eliminate Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test, removing the need to determine the implied fair value of goodwill and comparing it to the carrying amount of that goodwill to measure the impairment loss, if any. In situations in which an entity's reporting unit is publicly traded, the fair value of the Company may be approximated by its market capitalization, in performing the quantitative impairment test.

Goodwill impairment exists when the estimated fair value of goodwill is less than its carrying value. If impairment exists, the carrying value of the goodwill is reduced to fair value through an impairment charge recorded in our statements of operations. The process of evaluating the potential impairment of goodwill is subjective and requires significant judgment at many points during the analysis. The value of Autodesk’s goodwill could also be impacted by future adverse changes such as: (i) declines in Autodesk’s actual financial results, (ii) a sustained decline in Autodesk’s market capitalization, (iii) a significant slowdown in the worldwide economy or the industries Autodesk serves, or (iv) changes in Autodesk’s business strategy.

There was no goodwill impairment during the three and six months July 31, 2017 and 2016.