IMPAIRMENT OF GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Impairment of Goodwill and Intangible Assets [Abstract]

Impairment of Goodwill and Intangible Assets

NOTE 2. IMPAIRMENT OF GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets of acquired businesses. Indefinite-lived intangibles are intangible assets whose useful lives are indefinite in that their lives extend beyond the foreseeable horizon – that is there is no foreseeable limit on the period of time over which they are expected to contribute to the cash flows of the reporting entity. The Company accounts for these items in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350 Intangibles – Goodwill and Other, which requires that impairment testing for goodwill is performed at least annually at the reporting unit level. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment (also known as a component). The Company has determined that it is comprised of only one reporting unit. The Company performs its annual impairment test as of July 31st. Goodwill is also tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. Examples of these events or circumstances include:

A significant adverse long term outlook;

Unanticipated competition or the introduction of a disruptive technology;

Failure of an anticipated product or product line;

The testing for recoverability under the ASC 360-10 Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets of a significant asset group;

A loss of key personnel; and

An expectation that a significant portion of the Company will be sold or otherwise disposed of.

The impairment test for goodwill uses a two-step approach. Step one compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value including goodwill. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, there is a potential impairment and step two must be performed. Step two compares the carrying value of the reporting unit's goodwill to its implied value (i.e., the fair value of the reporting unit less the fair value of the unit's assets and liabilities, including identifiable intangible assets). If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied value, the excess is recorded as an impairment.

There were no impairment charges recognized during the fiscal year 2016. During the first quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company identified several events, that when combined, were determined to require an interim impairment test. These events consisted of a material decrease in revenue compared to prior year and compared to the prior quarter which resulted in a decision to pre-release earnings information; necessary operational changes within the Sales Organization which drove a shift in our sales approach; and a sustained decrease in share price.

Under Step 1 of the impairment test the Company determined fair value based on discounted cash flows using an income approach with the multi-period excess earnings method which estimates the fair value of the asset by discounting the future projected excess earnings associated with the asset to present value as of the valuation date. Based on the analysis, it was determined that the carrying value of the Company including goodwill exceeded the fair value, requiring the Company to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any.

The Company then performed Step 2 of the impairment test, noting fair value of the long-lived assets (other than goodwill), of $3.0 million, was less than the carrying amount of those assets and, as a result, recorded a non-cash, pre-tax impairment charge of $10.3 million during the first fiscal quarter of 2015. The Company then determined the implied value of goodwill was $6.7 million, which was less than its carrying value and, as a result, the Company recognized a non-cash, pre-tax charge of $21.7 million during the first fiscal quarter of 2015. These impairment charges are included under the caption "Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets" in our consolidated statements of operations.

The valuation methods utilized to value the long-lived assets and the goodwill discussed above are based on the amount and timing of expected future cash flows and growth rates and include a determination of an appropriate discount rate. The cash flows utilized in the discounted cash flow analyses were based on financial forecasts developed internally by management. Estimating future cash flows requires significant judgment and projections may vary from the cash flows eventually realized. Determining the fair value using a discounted cash flow method requires significant estimates and assumptions, including market conditions, discount rates, and long-term projections of cash flows. The Company’s estimates are based upon historical experience, current market trends, projected future volumes and other information. The Company believes that the estimates and assumptions underlying the valuation methodology are reasonable; however, different estimates and assumptions could result in a different estimate of fair value. In estimating future cash flows, the Company relies on internally generated projections for a defined time period for revenue and operating profits, including capital expenditures, changes in net working capital, and adjustments for non-cash items to arrive at the free cash flow available to invested capital. Where applicable, a terminal value utilizing a constant growth rate of cash flows is used to calculate a terminal value after the explicit projection period. The future projected cash flows for the discrete projection period and the terminal value are discounted at a risk adjusted discount rate to determine the fair value of the reporting unit.

The following table presents the changes in the carrying amount of our goodwill (in thousands):



Balance at September 30, 2014	$	28,383
Goodwill impairment		(21,698)
Balance at September 30, 2015		6,685
Goodwill impairment		-
Balance at September 30, 2016	$	6,685

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the aggregate amount of goodwill and a description of intangible assets, which may include (a) for amortizable intangible assets (also referred to as finite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, the amount of any significant residual value, and the weighted-average amortization period, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization (also referred to as indefinite-lived intangible assets), the carrying amount, and (c) the amount of research and development assets acquired and written off in the period, including the line item in the income statement in which the amounts written off are aggregated, if not readily apparent from the income statement. Also discloses (a) for amortizable intangibles assets in total and by major class, the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization, the total amortization expense for the period, and the estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, (b) for intangible assets not subject to amortization the carrying amount in total and by major class, and (c) for goodwill, in total and for each reportable segment, the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the period (including the aggregate amount of goodwill acquired, the aggregate amount of impairment losses recognized, and the amount of goodwill included in the gain (loss) on disposal of a reporting unit). If any part of goodwill has not been allocated to a reportable segment, discloses the unallocated amount and the reasons for not allocating. For each impairment loss recognized related to an intangible asset (excluding goodwill), discloses: (a) a description of the impaired intangible asset and the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method for determining fair value, (c) the caption in the income statement or the statement of activities in which the impairment loss is aggregated, and (d) the segment in which the impaired intangible asset is reported. For each goodwill impairment loss recognized, discloses: (a) a description of the facts and circumstances leading to the impairment, (b) the amount of the impairment loss and the method of determining the fair value of the associated reporting unit, and (c) if a recognized impairment loss is an estimate not finalized and the reasons why the estimate is not final. May also disclose the nature and amount of any significant adjustments made to a previous estimate of an impairment loss.

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